con·fed·er·ate
kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rət 
1
: united in a league : allied
2
Confederate
: of or relating to the Confederate States of America
plural confederates
1
: ally, accomplice
2
Confederate
: an adherent of the Confederate States of America or their cause
con·fed·er·ate
kən-ˈfe-də-ˌrāt
confederated; confederating
: to unite in a confederacy
: to band together
Synonyms
Examples of confederate in a Sentence
Noun
the Yankees and the Confederates
the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking
Verb
the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers
Recent Examples on the Web
Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024
President Lincoln was assassinated by a confederate sympathizer.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 July 2024
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Despite opposition by Russia and its clique of confederates, more than 150 UN states backed the ban on ASAT testing.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Authorities are accusing Antonio Hernandez and confederates Ivan Murillo-Hernandez and Alexis Garcia Martinez of ripping off mail from unsuspecting venues with the help of four juveniles, whose names were not released.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for confederate 
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.
Adjective
The series somewhat downplays the real-life danger: In the show, men in a truck wagging a confederate flag egg Ali’s lodge.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024
President Lincoln was assassinated by a confederate sympathizer.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 July 2024
Noun
Afterward, when the Price sisters and their confederates attempt to flee the country, an unmistakably childlike terror consumes their faces.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Despite opposition by Russia and its clique of confederates, more than 150 UN states backed the ban on ASAT testing.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
Rowling and longtime confederates Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are exec producing, so she is expected to be involved in the decision-making on the series.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Authorities are accusing Antonio Hernandez and confederates Ivan Murillo-Hernandez and Alexis Garcia Martinez of ripping off mail from unsuspecting venues with the help of four juveniles, whose names were not released.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for confederate
Dictionary Entries Near confederate
Cite this Entry
“Confederate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confederate. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
confederate
1 of 3 adjective
con·fed·er·ate
kən-ˈfed-(ə-)rət
1
: united in a league : allied
2
capitalized
: of or relating to the Confederate States of America
Confederate money
confederate
2 of 3 noun2
capitalized
: a soldier, citizen, or supporter of the Confederate States of America
confederate
3 of 3 verb
con·fed·er·ate
kən-ˈfed-ə-ˌrāt
confederated; confederating
: to unite in a confederacy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share