A confederation is an organization or group consisting of smaller groups or states, especially one that exists for business or political purposes.
...the Confederation of Indian Industry. [+ of]
...plans to partition the republic into a confederation of mini-states. [+ of]
confederation in British English
(kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən)
noun
1.
the act or process of confederating or the state of being confederated
2.
a loose alliance of political units. The union of the Swiss cantons is the oldest surviving confederation
Compare federation
3. (esp in Canada) another name for federation
Derived forms
confederationism (conˌfederˈationˌism)
noun
confederationist (conˌfederˈationist)
noun
confederative (conˈfederative)
adjective
Confederation in British English
(kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən)
noun
1. the Confederation
2.
the federation of Canada, formed with four original provinces in 1867 and since joined by eight more
confederation in American English
(kənˌfɛdərˈeɪʃən)
noun
1.
a uniting or being united in a league or alliance
2.
a league or alliance; specif., independent nations or states joined in a league or confederacy whose central authority is usually confined to common defense and limited political cooperation
SIMILAR WORDS: alˈliance
Idioms:
the Confederation
Word origin
ME confederacion < LL confoederatio: see confederate
Examples of 'confederation' in a sentence
confederation
It actually evolved as a " loose confederation of hill tribes.
Sanderson, Stephen K. Macrosociology: An Introduction to Human Societies (1995)
The rest went to members of the South American confederation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
confederation
British English: confederation NOUN
A confederation is an organization or group consisting of smaller groups or states, especially one that exists for business or political purposes.