confederate

1 of 3

adjective

con·​fed·​er·​ate kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rət 

1

: united in a league : allied

2

Confederate : of or relating to the Confederate States of America

confederate

2 of 3

noun

plural confederates

1

: ally, accomplice

2

Confederate : an adherent of the Confederate States of America or their cause

confederate

3 of 3

verb

con·​fed·​er·​ate kən-ˈfe-də-ˌrāt 

confederated; confederating

transitive verb

: to unite in a confederacy

intransitive verb

: to band together

confederative

kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-tiv 

-də-ˌrā-

adjective

Synonyms

Noun

• accomplice

Verb

• cooperate
• unite
• federate

Examples of confederate in a Sentence

Noun

the Yankees and the Confederates

the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking

Verb

the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some of them carried shields and other flags, including confederate and upside down American flags. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2025

More than 2,000 confederate symbols remain across the country, and some have even been restored including those Virginia schools reclaiming their names. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025

Noun

Yet could a new coalition of European confederates actually produce a nuclear stockpile capable of containing Russia, which holds the planet’s most colossal atomic armory? —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

This means providing enough defense to keep these confederates onboard. —Elbridge Colby, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019

Verb

Rowling and longtime confederates Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are exec producing, so she is expected to be involved in the decision-making on the series. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 10 June 2025

Authorities are accusing Antonio Hernandez and confederates Ivan Murillo-Hernandez and Alexis Garcia Martinez of ripping off mail from unsuspecting venues with the help of four juveniles, whose names were not released. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English confederat, from Late Latin confoederatus, past participle of confoederare to unite by a league, from Latin com- + foeder-, foedus compact — more at federal

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

confederate

1 of 3 adjective

con·​fed·​er·​ate kən-ˈfed-(ə-)rət 

1

: united in a league : allied

2

capitalized : of or relating to the Confederate States of America

Confederate money

confederate

2 of 3 noun

1

: ally entry 2 sense 2a, accomplice

2

capitalized : a soldier, citizen, or supporter of the Confederate States of America

confederate

3 of 3 verb

con·​fed·​er·​ate kən-ˈfed-ə-ˌrāt 

confederated; confederating

: to unite in a confederacy