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 of confederate

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

The death blow came on the heels and in comes in advance of unprecedented efforts by formerly Confederate states undertaking their own efforts to disenfranchise Black voters through gerrymandering. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

The stage, set in front of the Capitol, was flanked from behind by statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and civil rights icon Rosa Parks — dueling tributes erected nearly 90 years apart. —Kim Chandler, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026

Noun

While sanctions and other policies have intended to sustain U.S. trade dominance or punish adversaries, Ur Rehman said those efforts are backfiring and hurting the U.S.’s relationship with key global confederates. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026

Hynes died, but his three confederates have been subpoenaed to testify in my malicious prosecution lawsuit. —John O’Hara, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026

Verb

Reality-show judges could include Taylor and Travis confederates: Tree Paine, Sabrina Carpenter, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, and Patrick Mahomes. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025

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, 19 Aug. 2025

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