confederate

[ adjective, noun kuhn-fed-er-it, -fed-rit; verb kuhn-fed-uh-reyt ]
/ adjective, noun kənˈfɛd ər ɪt, -ˈfɛd rɪt; verb kənˈfɛd əˌreɪt /

adjective

united in a league, alliance, or conspiracy.
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Confederate States of America: the Confederate army.

noun

a person, group, nation, etc., united with others in a confederacy; an ally.
an accomplice, especially in a mischievous or criminal act.
(initial capital letter) U.S. History. a supporter of the Confederate States of America.

verb (used with or without object), con·fed·er·at·ed, con·fed·er·at·ing.

to unite in a league, alliance, or conspiracy.

Origin of confederate

1350–1400; Middle English confederat < Late Latin confoederātus (past participle of confoederāre to unite in a league), equivalent to con- con- + foeder- (stem of foedus) treaty (see fidelity) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM confederate

half-Con·fed·er·ate, adjective non·con·fed·er·ate, adjective, noun pro-Con·fed·er·ate, adjective un·con·fed·er·at·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for confederate

British Dictionary definitions for confederate (1 of 2)

confederate

noun (kənˈfɛdərɪt, -ˈfɛdrɪt)

a nation, state, or individual that is part of a confederacy
someone who is part of a conspiracy; accomplice

adjective (kənˈfɛdərɪt, -ˈfɛdrɪt)

united in a confederacy; allied

verb (kənˈfɛdəˌreɪt)

to form into or become part of a confederacy

Word Origin for confederate

C14: from Late Latin confoederātus, from confoederāre to unite by a league, from Latin com- together + foedus treaty

British Dictionary definitions for confederate (2 of 2)

Confederate
/ (kənˈfɛdərɪt, -ˈfɛdrɪt) /

adjective

of, supporting, or relating to the Confederate States of America

noun

a supporter of the Confederate States of America

Cultural definitions for confederate

Confederate

A descriptive term for the institutions and people of the Confederacy.