an organization which consists of number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league 同盟;联盟;联邦 a confederation of trade unions. 工会联合会。 ■a more or less permanent union of states with some or most political power vested in a central authority 邦联 ■[mass noun]the action of confederating or the state of being confederated 结盟(或联合)的行动;结盟(或联合)的状态 a referendum on confederation. 就结盟问题的全民公决。
语源
late Middle English: from Old French confederacion or late Latin confederatio(n-), from Latin confoederare, from con- 'together' + foederare 'join in league with' (from foedus 'league, treaty')