Confederation

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particulary of princes, nations, or states. The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation among themselves. Bacon. This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of New England. Palfrey.

2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a confederacy. Articles of confederation. See under Article.