con·fed·er·a·tion   (kən-fěd'ə-rā'shən)    n.   The act of forming into or becoming part of a confederacy. The state of being confederated. The union of the British North American colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada, brought about July 1, 1867, under the name Dominion of Canada. The federal union of all the Canadian provinces and territories, the most recent member being Newfoundland in 1949. A group of confederates, especially of states or nations, united for a common purpose; a league. Confederation The union of the British North American colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada, brought about July 1, 1867, under the name Dominion of Canada. The federal union of all the Canadian provinces and territories, the most recent member being Newfoundland in 1949. con·fed'er·a'tion·ism n., con·fed'er·a'tion·ist n.

Confederation

Con*fed`er*a"tion\, n. [L. confoederatio: cf. F. conf['e]d['e]ration.]

1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particularly of princes, nations, or states.

The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation among themselves. --Bacon.

This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of New England. --Palfrey.

2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a confederacy.

Articles of confederation. See under Article.

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.

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

Note: Canada is officially a confederation of provinces.