confederation C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən/ UK /kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun an alliance of states or groups united for a common purpose The cantons formed a loose confederation for mutual defense. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · an alliance of states or... allianceleaguefederationcoalitionunionconfederacycompact Word family Related forms confederateconfederacyfederal Etymology AI details From Late Latin confoederationem, from confoederare ('to unite in a league'), from com- ('together') + foederare, from foedus ('league, treaty'). confoederatio Latin foedus Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # confederation **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən/ **IPA (UK):** /kənˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən/ ## Meanings 1. an alliance of states or groups united for a common purpose ## Examples - The cantons formed a loose confederation for mutual defense. ## Synonyms - alliance - league - federation - coalition - union - confederacy - compact ## Related Forms - confederate - confederacy - federal ## Roots and Affixes - Root: confoederatio - Root: foedus ## Etymology From Late Latin confoederationem, from confoederare ('to unite in a league'), from com- ('together') + foederare, from foedus ('league, treaty'). ## AI Etymology Confederation is a noun meaning "an alliance of states or groups united for a common purpose". Historically, it is from Late Latin confoederationem, from confoederare ('to unite in a league'), from com- ('together') + foederare, from foedus ('league, treaty'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: confederation is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin confoederatio with Latin foedus. Close English family members include confederate, confederacy, and federal. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown