confederacy
[ kuh n-fed-er-uh-see, -fed-ruh-see ]
/ kənˈfɛd ər ə si, -ˈfɛd rə si /
noun, plural con·fed·er·a·cies.
an alliance between persons, parties, states, etc., for some purpose.
a group of persons, parties, states, etc., united by such a confederacy.
a combination of persons for unlawful purposes; conspiracy.
the Confederacy. Confederate States of America.
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Origin of confederacy
Definition for confederacy (2 of 2)
Confederate States of America
plural noun
the group of 11 Southern states that seceded from the United States in 1860–61.
Also called the Confederacy.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for confederacy
British Dictionary definitions for confederacy (1 of 3)
confederacy
/ (kənˈfɛdərəsɪ, -ˈfɛdrəsɪ) /
noun plural -cies
a union or combination of peoples, states, etc; alliance; league
a combination of groups or individuals for unlawful purposes
Derived Formsconfederal, adjective
Word Origin for confederacy
C14: from Anglo-French confederacie, from Late Latin confoederātiō agreement, confederation
British Dictionary definitions for confederacy (2 of 3)
Confederacy
/ (kənˈfɛdərəsɪ, -ˈfɛdrəsɪ) /
noun
the Confederacy another name for Confederate States of America
British Dictionary definitions for confederacy (3 of 3)
Confederate States of America
pl n
US history the 11 Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi) that seceded from the Union in 1861, precipitating a civil war with the North. The Confederacy was defeated in 1865 and the South reincorporated into the US
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for confederacy
confederacy
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]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Culture definitions for confederacy
Confederacy
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.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
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