Confederacy

[kuh n-fed-er-uh-see, -fed-ruh-see] /kənˈfɛd ər ə si, -ˈfɛd rə si/

noun, plural confederacies.
1.
an alliance between persons, parties, states, etc., for some purpose.
2.
a group of persons, parties, states, etc., united by such a confederacy.
3.
a combination of persons for unlawful purposes; conspiracy.
4.
the Confederacy, .
plural noun
1.
the group of 11 Southern states that seceded from the United States in 1860–61.
/kənˈfɛdərəsɪ; -ˈfɛdrəsɪ/
noun (pl) -cies
1.
a union or combination of peoples, states, etc; alliance; league
2.
a combination of groups or individuals for unlawful purposes
/kənˈfɛdərəsɪ; -ˈfɛdrəsɪ/
noun
1.
the Confederacy, another name for Confederate States of America
plural noun
1.
(US, history) the 11 Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi) that seceded from the Union in 1861, precipitating a civil war with the North. The Confederacy was defeated in 1865 and the South reincorporated into the US
n.

late 14c., from Anglo-French confederacie (Old French confederacie), from stem of Latin confoederatio, from confoederare (see confederate). Earliest in reference to leagues of classical Greek states (Aetolian, Achaean, etc.), later of the Netherlands. The word was used of the United States of America under (and in) the Articles of Confederation (1777-1788). In reference to the breakaway Confederate States of America (1861-1865) from 1861.

Confederacy now usually implies a looser or more temporary association than confederation, which is applied to a union of states organized on an intentionally permanent basis. [OED]

The Confederate States of America; the government formed in 1861 by southern states that proclaimed their secession from the United States. Jefferson Davis was its president. The Confederacy was dissolved after the Civil War. (Compare Union.)