confederacy

[ kuhn-fed-er-uh-see, -fed-ruh-see ]

noun

, plural con·fed·er·a·cies.

1. an alliance between persons, parties, states, etc., for some purpose.
2. a group of persons, parties, states, etc., united by such a confederacy.
3. a combination of persons for unlawful purposes; conspiracy.
4. the Confederacy. Confederate States of America.

Confederacy

¹

/ -ˈfɛdrəsɪ; kənˈfɛdərəsɪ /

noun

1. the Confederacy
   another name for Confederate States of America

confederacy

²

/ -ˈfɛdrəsɪ; kənˈfɛdərəsɪ /

noun

1. a union or combination of peoples, states, etc; alliance; league
2. a combination of groups or individuals for unlawful purposes

Confederacy

1. The Confederate States of America; the government formed in 1861 by southern states that proclaimed their secession from the United States. Jefferson Davis was its president. The Confederacy was dissolved after the Civil War . ( Compare Union .)

Derived Forms

• conˈfederal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confederacy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English confederacie, from Anglo-French, equivalent to Late Latin confoederāt(us) “united” (past participle of confoederāre “to unite in a league”; confederate ) + -ia -y ³( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of confederacy¹

C14: from Anglo-French confederacie, from Late Latin confoederātiō agreement, confederation

Example Sentences

The federal government entered into three treaties that affirmed the confederacy’s sovereignty and ownership over much of the northern part of New York state.

From Seattle Times

Known as “Lament for Confederation,” it was a landmark moment in First Nations history, calling out the meaning of the confederacy and the impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples.

From Seattle Times

This confederacy of society’s richest and most powerful people is determined to ruin Benny’s life.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, Cortés wandered into a collection of city states, three of them joined in a powerful confederacy, the Triple Alliance.

From Los Angeles Times

"Keep the government out of our lives ... so that we can continue to expand slavery" was the fundamental demand of the confederacy.

From Salon