confederacy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
    Dixie; Dixieland; Confederate States of America; Confederate States; South.
  2. noun a union of political organizations
    confederation; federation.
  3. noun a group of conspirators banded together to achieve some harmful or illegal purpose
    conspiracy.
  4. noun a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act
    conspiracy.

WordNet

Con*fed"er*a*cy noun
Etymology
From Confederate, a.
Wordforms
plural Confederacies
Definitions
  1. A league or compact between two or more persons, bodies of men, or states, for mutual support or common action; alliance.
    The friendships of the world are oft Confederacies in vice or leagues of pleasure. Addison.
    He hath heard of our confederacy. Shak.
    Virginia promoted a confederacy. Bancroft.
  2. The persons, bodies, states, or nations united by a league; a confederation.
    The Grecian common wealth, . . . the most heroic confederacy that ever existed. Harris.
    Virgil has a whole confederacy against him. Dryden.
  3. (Law) A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy. Syn. -- League; compact; alliance; association; union; combination; confederation.

Webster 1913