confederacy

[kuh n-fed-er-uh-see, -fed-ruh-see] /kənˈfɛd ər ə si, -ˈfɛd rə si/
noun, plural confederacies.
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.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English confederacie < Anglo-French; see confederate, -acy
Examples from the web for confederacy
  • The abenakis were one of the five members of the wabanaki confederacy.
  • Sumner was a leading proponent of abolishing slavery to weaken the confederacy.
British Dictionary definitions for confederacy

confederacy

/kənˈfɛdərəsɪ; -ˈfɛdrəsɪ/
noun (pl) -cies
1.
a union or combination of peoples, states, etc; alliance; league
2.
a combination of groups or individuals for unlawful purposes
Derived Forms
confederal, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French confederacie, from Late Latin confoederātiō agreement, confederation

Confederacy

/kənˈfɛdərəsɪ; -ˈfɛdrəsɪ/
noun
1.
the Confederacy, another name for Confederate States of America
Word Origin and History for confederacy
n.

late 14c., from Anglo-French confederacie (Old French confederacie), from stem of Latin confoederatio, from confoederare (see confederate). Earliest in reference to leagues of classical Greek states (Aetolian, Achaean, etc.), later of the Netherlands. The word was used of the United States of America under (and in) the Articles of Confederation (1777-1788). In reference to the breakaway Confederate States of America (1861-1865) from 1861.

Confederacy now usually implies a looser or more temporary association than confederation, which is applied to a union of states organized on an intentionally permanent basis. [OED]

confederacy in Culture

Confederacy definition


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.)