View synonyms for confederation

confederation

[ kuhn-fed-uh-rey-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act of confederating.
the state of being confederated.
a league or alliance.
Synonyms: federation, coalition
a group of confederates, especially of states more or less permanently united for common purposes.
the Confederation, the union of the 13 original U.S. states under the Articles of Confederation 1781–89.
(initial capital letter) the federation of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, formed in 1867 and constituting the Dominion of Canada.

Confederation

/ kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən /

noun

the Confederation
the Confederation history the original 13 states of the United States of America constituted under the Articles of Confederation and superseded by the more formal union established in 1789
the federation of Canada, formed with four original provinces in 1867 and since joined by eight more

confederation

/ kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən /

noun

the act or process of confederating or the state of being confederated
See federation
a loose alliance of political units. The union of the Swiss cantons is the oldest surviving confederation Compare federation
See federation
(esp in Canada) another name for federation

confederation

A group of nations or states, or a government encompassing several states or political divisions, in which the component states retain considerable independence. The members of a confederation often delegate only a few powers to the central authority.

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Notes

Canada is officially a confederation of provinces.

The United States was governed as a confederation in the first few years of its independence ( see Articles of Confederation ).

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Derived Forms

conˈfederative, adjective
conˌfederˈationist, noun
conˌfederˈationˌism, noun

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Other Words From

con·feder·ation·ism noun
con·feder·ation·ist noun
anti·con·feder·ation·ism noun
anti·con·feder·ation·ist noun adjective
noncon·feder·ation noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of confederation¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin confoederātiō “agreement,” from confoederāt(us) “united” (past participle of confoederāre “to unite in a league”; confederate ) + -iō -ion

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Synonym Study

See alliance.

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Example Sentences

The Articles of Confederation had required nine of the 13 states to pass most items, and it was a disaster.

From The Daily Beast

I saw it in "Quotation", a group show at the Confederation Center of the Arts in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

From The Daily Beast

The more daring among them even talk about federation or confederation, possibly including the Kingdom of Jordan.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, the two colonies were joined in a confederation, with separate legislatures.

From The Daily Beast

More disclosure: Jim Kim and I are part of a loose confederation called “Doctors for Obama.”

From The Daily Beast

The suspense with which Louis listened to this perfidious confederation, was almost insufferable.

From Project Gutenberg

The promise of obedience to God by vow or oath, includes a promise of certain services to each member of the confederation.

From Project Gutenberg

And how would the general confederation testify to a glorious work of reformation!

From Project Gutenberg

A committee was appointed to draw up such a plan and, in 1777, it submitted the Articles of Confederation to Congress.

From Project Gutenberg

By 1785, the Americans began to realize that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to become effective.

From Project Gutenberg

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Confederate War confederative

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