confederate

adjective con·fed·er·ate \ kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rət \

Definition of confederate

1 :united in a league :allied

2 capitalized :of or relating to the Confederate States of America

Recent Examples of confederate from the Web

Museum Executive Director Shawn Gladden said other artifacts in the exhibit include letters from Union soldiers who were county residents and weapons and other items used by both Union and Confederate soldiers.

— kate magill, Columbia Flier, "Where did it come from? The history of Howard County’s Confederate monument," 28 Aug. 2017
Huntsville police officers repeatedly separated pro- and anti-Confederate memorial protesters on the Madison County Courthouse Square Saturday.

— lee roop, AL.com, "Huntsville police separate pro- and anti-Confederate memorial protesters," 19 Aug. 2017
Durant, Oklahoma has a confederate soldier statue and is close by to Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

— melissa cordell, Seventeen, "These Colleges Still Have Confederate Symbolism On Campus — And It's 2017," 17 Aug. 2017
This monument to confederate prisoners of war holds no historical significance to President Garfield and is a painful reminder that slaves were forced to fight for the Confederacy in order to prolong their own slavery.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Confederate monument discussion comes to Indianapolis over Garfield Park's memorial," 17 Aug. 2017
According to an Internal Survey [Associated Press] Here's Why Robert E. Lee Opposed Putting Up Confederate Monuments [TIME]

— zeke j miller, Time, "How President Trump Lost the CEO's," 17 Aug. 2017
The rally was organized by white supremacist, alt-right, neo-Nazi and pro-Confederate groups, drawing several hundred counter-protesters.

— justin sayers, The Courier-Journal, "Anti-racism vigil to promote peace and inclusiveness Tuesday in New Albany," 15 Aug. 2017
Also, a neo-Confederate group has asked the state of Virginia for permission to rally at a monument to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond on Sept. 16, and other events are likely.

— jay reeves, chicagotribune.com, "Emboldened white nationalists say Charlottesville is just the beginning," 14 Aug. 2017
Slave-owning father Meacham said he's discovered a lot about Pate, who was a private in the Confederate Army.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "Scientist asks Gov. Bevin for help to exhume Confederate soldier in Hopkinsville casket," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confederate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of confederate

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

confederate

noun

Definition of confederate

1 :ally, accomplice

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

See confederate defined for English-language learners

Examples of confederate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of confederate from the Web

The man, who identified himself as Joseph Springer of Louisville, was wearing a trucker cap and a black cut-off T-shirt with a confederate flag bandanna sticking out.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Black leaders slam Gov. Bevin for inconsistency on Jefferson Davis statue," 30 Aug. 2017
That is not a confederate statue, being there is not an issue [for minority members of the state steering committee] one bit.

— mckay coppins, The Atlantic, "The Republican Establishment Stands Behind Trump," 24 Aug. 2017
FRANKLIN - Residents upset over the removal of the Robert E Lee plaque attended the Franklin City meeting Monday night demanding the confederate monument to be returned.

— Cincinnati.com, "Residents demand Confederate monument be returned," 22 Aug. 2017
Pro-monument protestors argue for the protection of the confederate monument in front of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse on Monday evening in downtown Bradenton.

— by jessica de leon and mark young, miamiherald, "The fate of a Confederate monument in Florida draws protests on both sides," 22 Aug. 2017
A grassroots organization is lobbying the Madison County Commission to remove the confederate statue outside the courthouse in downtown Huntsville.

— paul gattis, AL.com, "Alabama's Confederate monuments: 'Good, bad and ugly' of heritage or hate fight," 19 Aug. 2017
Other towns and cities, like Baltimore, have chosen to take down or cover their confederate statues since the violent clashes in Charlottesville.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Duke University Takes Down Gen. Robert E. Lee Statue," 19 Aug. 2017
When the subject of confederate statues comes up, many do not distinguish between acknowledging history and commemorating it.

— serena bancroft, Town & Country, "How University of Virginia Students Feel About the Violence on Campus," 17 Aug. 2017
Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler organized Saturday's rally to protest the city's decision to remove a statue of confederate General Robert E. Lee.

— Bloomberg.com, "Virginia Declares State of Emergency in Response to White Nationalist Rally," 12 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of confederate

15th century

confederate Synonyms

Synonyms

abettor (also abetter), accessory (also accessary), cohort, accomplice

Related Words

collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer; evidence, state's evidence; companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner; conspirator, plotter, traitor; gangster, mobster, racketeer

Near Antonyms

belittler, detractor; adversary, enemy, foe, opponent

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

confederate

verb con·fed·er·ate \ kən-ˈfe-də-ˌrāt \

Definition of confederate

confederated; confederating

transitive verb

:to unite in a confederacy

intransitive verb

:to band together

—

confederative

play \kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-tiv, -də-ˌrā-\ adjective

Examples of confederate in a Sentence

the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers

Recent Examples of confederate from the Web

The Warren County monument is one of four memorials to confederate soldiers in Ohio.

— Cincinnati.com, "Residents demand Confederate monument be returned," 22 Aug. 2017
The jury would not be allowed to know about Tensing’s Great Smoky Mountains confederate flag T-shirt.

— brandon harris, New Republic, "Searching for Justice for Samuel DuBose," 20 June 2017

First Known Use of confederate

1531

confederate Synonyms

Synonyms

associate, band (together), club, coalesce, cohere, ally, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, unite

Antonyms

break up, disband

Related Words

cabal, collaborate, gang up, hang together, team (up); incorporate, organize, unionize; affiliate; amalgamate, combine, conglomerate, consolidate, converge, group, join, merge; knot, link, tie, wed

Near Antonyms

detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder; alienate, estrange, fall out

CONFEDERATE Defined for English Language Learners

confederate

noun

Definition of confederate for English Language Learners

: a person who helps someone do something
Confederate : a soldier, citizen, or supporter of the Confederacy during the American Civil War

CONFEDERATE Defined for Kids

confederate

adjective con·fed·er·ate \ kən-ˈfe-də-rət \

Definition of confederate for Students

1 :united in a league

2 capitalized :of or relating to the southern Confederacy

Her grandfather collected Confederate stamps.

confederate

noun

Definition of confederate for Students

1 :a member of a league of persons, parties, or states

2 :accomplice

3 capitalized :a soldier of or a person who sided with the southern Confederacy

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See words that rhyme with confederate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for confederate Spanish Central: Translation of confederate Nglish: Translation of confederate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of confederate for Arabic speakers

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confederate

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confederative

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