confederation
- 01 C1 Advanced
a group of states or organizations that have joined together for a shared goal.
a union of sovereign states or political organizations joined by a treaty or agreement for common action.
Simple“The small nations formed a confederation to protect their trade interests.”
In context“The proposed confederation aimed to harmonize customs duties across the region while allowing each member state to maintain its own legal system.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' followed by the members of the group.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the process of forming a union or alliance between different groups.
the act or process of forming an alliance or political union.
Simple“The confederation of the various tribes took many years of negotiation.”
In context“Historians argue that the confederation of these disparate territories was driven more by economic necessity than by shared cultural identity.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
the historical event in 1867 when several provinces joined to form the country of Canada.
the process by which the British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into one Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.
Simple“Students in Toronto learn about the history of Confederation in primary school.”
In context“The debates leading up to Confederation reflected deep-seated concerns regarding provincial autonomy and the linguistic rights of the French-speaking population.”
UsageUsually capitalized when referring specifically to the Canadian historical event.
“Oceania have offered support to Gianni Infantino, but New Zealand have gone against their own confederation in FIFA row.”
“The Confederation of African Football (Caf) and South American governing body Conmebol have backed the 56-year-old to win a fourth presidential term at the Fifa Congress in March.”