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confederation

Syllabification: (con·fed·er·a·tion)

Pronunciation: /kənˌfedəˈrāSHən/

Translate confederation | into German | into Italian

Definition of confederation

noun

an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league:a confederation of trade unions
a more or less permanent union of countries with some or most political power vested in a central authority:Canada became a confederation in 1867
the action of confederating or the state of being confederated:a referendum on confederation

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French confederacion or late Latin confederatio(n-), from Latin confoederare, from con- 'together' + foederare 'join in league with' (from foedus 'league, treaty')