confederal

adjective

con·​fed·​er·​al kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rəl How to pronounce confederal (audio)
: of or relating to a confederation

Examples of confederal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1999, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty that committed them to merging into a confederal state at some future point. — New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022 These courts and other confederal bodies will likely require third-party participation at the outset, in order to build mutual confidence and avoid stalemates. — Omar M. Dajani, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2024 The Kurdish groups have armed members inside Iran and seek a confederal system allowing their region autonomy while remaining part of the Iranian state. — Stella Martany, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 That’s because member states worry that if the rules are too strict, platforms would respond by shrinking their platform workforce, says Ludovic Voet, confederal secretary at the European Trade Union Confederation. — WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of confederal was in 1780

Rhymes for confederal

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Browse Nearby Words

confederacy
confederal
confederalist
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Cite this Entry

“Confederal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confederal. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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