confederate

[ adjective noun kuhn-fed-er-it, -fed-rit; verb kuhn-fed-uh-reyt ]

adjective

1. united in a league, alliance, or conspiracy.
2. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Confederate States of America:

   the Confederate army.

noun

1. a person, group, nation, etc., united with others in a confederacy; an ally.

   Synonyms: cohort, partner, associate

2. an accomplice, especially in a mischievous or criminal act.
3. (initial capital letter) U.S. History. a supporter of the Confederate States of America.

verb (used with or without object)

, con·fed·er·at·ed, con·fed·er·at·ing.

1. to unite in a league, alliance, or conspiracy.

confederate

¹

noun

1. a nation, state, or individual that is part of a confederacy
2. someone who is part of a conspiracy; accomplice

adjective

1. united in a confederacy; allied

verb

1. to form into or become part of a confederacy

Confederate

²

/ -ˈfɛdrɪt; kənˈfɛdərɪt /

adjective

1. of, supporting, or relating to the Confederate States of America

noun

1. a supporter of the Confederate States of America

Confederate

1. A descriptive term for the institutions and people of the Confederacy .

Other Words From

• half-Con·feder·ate adjective
• noncon·feder·ate adjective noun
• pro-Con·feder·ate adjective
• uncon·feder·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confederate¹

1350–1400; Middle English confederat < Late Latin confoederātus (past participle of confoederāre to unite in a league), equivalent to con- con- + foeder- (stem of foedus ) treaty ( fidelity ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of confederate¹

C14: from Late Latin confoederātus, from confoederāre to unite by a league, from Latin com- together + foedus treaty

Example Sentences

In the rural areas surrounding Jackson, I’ll regularly pass confederate flags and dog whistles in the form of heavily wrapped militia trucks and bumper stickers.

From Outside Online

For me, today was an emotional day because in all my years as a resident of this city and as the mayor of this city I never thought I would see a day when all of the confederate statuary would be removed from Monument Avenue.

From Time

On Saturday, Charlottesville officials approved the removal of several confederate statues after years of activism to remove them.

From Essence.com

Although Southern did not automatically equal neo-Confederate, at times the distinction could easily get lost.

From The Daily Beast

Yet all too often the line between Southern and Confederate can get blurred.

From The Daily Beast

In July, he gave $12.3 million to refurbish the Virginia home of Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General.

From The Daily Beast

Gary Gallagher writes about the Union and Confederate armies.

From The Daily Beast

Close to three and a half million men fought in the war, and nearly 700,000, both Union and Confederate troops, died.

From The Daily Beast

If you have any thoughts of influencing me or my men to join the regular Confederate army, you may as well give up the idea.

From Project Gutenberg

She somehow felt like a confederate in crime, and tried to look severe and disapproving.

From Project Gutenberg

The Confederate government had considered the action a hostile act and had acted accordingly.

From Project Gutenberg

When he saw the Confederate flag in the hands of the Federal officer, he shot him in the breast.

From Project Gutenberg

While the winter passed, the Union forces kept receiving enforcements while the Confederate forces had no reenforcements.

From Project Gutenberg