# confederate

/kənˈfɛdɝˌeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confederate
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. an accomplice

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

someone who helps another person do something, especially something secret or illegal.

For teachers: an accomplice or associate in a plot, conspiracy, or criminal enterprise.

- The thief had a confederate inside the bank who left the back door unlocked.
- Investigators believe the hacker did not act alone but was assisted by a confederate with high-level access to the server room.

Usage: Often used in legal or investigative contexts to describe a secret partner in a crime.

### 2. psychology experiment assistant

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a person in a psychology study who pretends to be a participant but actually works for the researcher.

For teachers: an actor or assistant who participates in a psychological experiment while pretending to be a subject, used to manipulate the social environment.

- In the famous study, the confederate gave the wrong answer to see if the real student would agree.
- The validity of the social pressure experiment relied on the confederate maintaining a perfectly neutral expression while delivering the scripted lines.

Usage: Commonly used in academic papers and social psychology textbooks.

### 3. US Civil War soldier/citizen

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a person who lived in or fought for the Southern states during the American Civil War.

For teachers: a citizen, soldier, or supporter of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861–1865).

- The museum displayed a uniform worn by a young confederate during the war.
- Historians continue to debate the motivations of the average confederate, balancing regional loyalty against the defense of the institution of slavery.

Usage: Usually capitalized (Confederate) when referring to this specific historical context.

### 4. joined in an alliance

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

joined together in a group or alliance for a common goal.

For teachers: united in a league, alliance, or confederacy; banded together for a mutual purpose.

- The confederate tribes met once a year to discuss trade and defense.
- The confederate states struggled to maintain a unified foreign policy while preserving their individual local laws.

Usage: Often describes political or military groups that maintain significant independence while working together.

### 5. to form an alliance

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to join together with other people or states to form a group.

For teachers: to unite persons, groups, or states in a league or confederacy.

- The small kingdoms decided to confederate to protect themselves from the empire.
- The colonies eventually chose to confederate, though the process of drafting a shared constitution took several years of negotiation.

Usage: This verb is often used in the passive voice or as a reflexive action.

## Examples

- The researcher asked a confederate to sit in the waiting room.
- In the famous study on conformity, a confederate gave the wrong answer to see if the real subject would follow.
- The success of the social experiment relied entirely on the confederate maintaining a convincing facade of ignorance while subtly influencing the group's decision-making process.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.