federation

/ˌfedəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfedəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌfe-də-ˈrā-shən/ (ame, mw)

federation — noun

  • federationsingular
  • federationsplural

1. a political system or organization in which several states, groups, or regions h

1.名詞B2
釋義

a political system or organization in which several states, groups, or regions handle their own local matters while joining together under a central authority for shared decisions, defense, or policy

例句

The European Union is a federation where member countries keep their own laws but follow common trade rules.

count noun: a named federation with member states

Each state in the federation can set its own education policy while the central government manages foreign relations.

contrast between state-level and central authority

同義詞
  • union

    broader term; a union can describe any joined-together group, while a federation specifically implies a structured division of power between local and central authorities

  • commonwealth

    often used for a political community founded for the common good; 'commonwealth' can be a type of federation but sometimes implies a looser association of self-governing states

  • federal state

    more technical term for a country organized as a federation, commonly used in political science

反義詞
  • unitary state

    a country where the central government holds all power and local bodies only have authority given to them by the center, unlike a federation where power is constitutionally shared

  • independent state

    a sovereign state not joined to others under a shared central government

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'confederation': a federation has a stronger central government that can make laws binding on all member states, whereas a confederation is a looser union where the central body has limited power and members can usually withdraw more easily.

常見錯誤

❌Switzerland is a confederation of 26 cantons.' (when referring to the modern state)
✅Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons.
💡the country's official name still says 'confederation' for historical reasons, but its current political structure is a federation with a strong central government.
❌The trade union is a federation of workers.
✅The trade union is a federation of local branches.
💡'federation' describes groups or organizations joining together, not individual people.

2. the process by which separate states, regions, or groups come together to create

2.名詞B2
釋義

the process by which separate states, regions, or groups come together to create a federal system, keeping some of their internal independence while accepting a shared central authority

例句

The federation of the two former republics took place after a peaceful vote in both countries.

federation of [two entities] — the process sense

Historians call this period the federation of the colonies, when local governments gave up some of their powers.

passive: referred to as the federation of...

同義詞
  • unification

    broader term for making separate parts into one whole; does not specifically imply a federal structure with divided powers

  • integration

    focuses on the gradual merging of systems or institutions rather than the formal political act of creating a federation

反義詞
  • secession

    the act of withdrawing from a federation or union

文法句型

federation of [states / groups]

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable or singular and usually appears with 'of' to specify which entities are joining together. Common in historical and political science writing to describe the moment or period when a federal system was created.