kənˈfed(ə)rəsē, -si, rap. -dərs- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English confederacie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin confoederation-, confoederatio agreement, compact — more at confederation
1. : a league or compact between two or more persons, bodies of men, or states for mutual support or common action : alliance
2. : a combination of persons to do an unlawful act or to do a lawful act by unlawful means — see conspiracy
3. : the body formed by persons, bodies, states, or nations united by a league ; especially : a union of states
the United States was originally a confederacy
the Southern Confederacy
— now usually used to imply a looser union than federation