confederation

noun

con·​fed·​er·​a·​tion kən-ˌfe-də-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce confederation (audio)
Synonyms of confederationnext
1
: an act of confederating : a state of being confederated : alliance
2
: league

Synonyms of confederation

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Examples of confederation in a Sentence

the smaller nations were forced to form a confederation out of self-defense the big-budget movie was produced by the studio in confederation with another in order to lower the risk
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The unprecedented proposal, aimed at accelerating investment, faced swift and broad opposition from major confederations like UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, transforming it into a near-global rejection. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Ceferin, as a confederation president and FIFA Council vice-president, is eligible to receive a net annual compensation of $300,000. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 31 July 2026 Together, those three confederations make up 143 of the 211 FIFA members. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Their absence could prompt more of FIFA’s confederations to consider similar measures. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for confederation

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confederation was in the 15th century

Rhymes for confederation

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confederate violet
confederation
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Cite this Entry

“Confederation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confederation. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

confederation

noun
con·​fed·​er·​a·​tion kən-ˌfed-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce confederation (audio)
1
: an act of confederating : a state of being confederated : alliance
2
: league entry 2

More from Merriam-Webster on confederation

Nglish: Translation of confederation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confederation

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