Main Entry:

con·fed·er·a·cy

Pronunciation:

\kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-sē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural con·fed·er·a·cies

Date:

14th century

1: a league or compact for mutual support or common action : alliance2: a combination of persons for unlawful purposes : conspiracy3: the body formed by persons, states, or nations united by a league ; specifically capitalized : the 11 southern states seceding from the United States in 1860 and 1861