# confederation

/kənˌfɛdɝˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /kənfˌɛdəɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. political alliance

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a group of states or organizations that have joined together for a shared goal.

For teachers: a union of sovereign states or political organizations joined by a treaty or agreement for common action.

- The small nations formed a confederation to protect their trade interests.
- The proposed confederation aimed to harmonize customs duties across the region while allowing each member state to maintain its own legal system.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the members of the group.

### 2. the act of joining

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the process of forming a union or alliance between different groups.

For teachers: the act or process of forming an alliance or political union.

- The confederation of the various tribes took many years of negotiation.
- Historians argue that the confederation of these disparate territories was driven more by economic necessity than by shared cultural identity.

### 3. Canadian history

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

the historical event in 1867 when several provinces joined to form the country of Canada.

For teachers: 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.

- Students in Toronto learn about the history of Confederation in primary school.
- The debates leading up to Confederation reflected deep-seated concerns regarding provincial autonomy and the linguistic rights of the French-speaking population.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring specifically to the Canadian historical event.

## Examples

- The Swiss Confederation is made up of many cantons.
- The new confederation allowed each member state to keep its own laws and currency.
- Historical confederations often struggle with central authority, as member states fiercely protect their right to self-governance.

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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.