# federation

Pronunciation: say "fed-uh-RAY-shuhn" /ˌfɛdəˈɹeɪʃn̩/

## Noun

1. A union of nations or states joined under one central authority, which the members themselves elect.
   - Simple: A group of states or countries joined under one main government that they choose together.
   - _Each member state of the federation sends delegates to elect the central council._
   - _Some federations give their regions wide powers over schools and policing._
2. Any society or organization formed by bringing together separate groups or bodies.
   - Simple: A group or club made up of smaller groups that have joined together.
   - _The national tennis federation suspended two players for breaking anti-doping rules._
   - _Several labor federations joined the strike, bringing hundreds of local unions with them._
3. The process by which separate units, such as states or colonies, unite to form one political whole.
   - Simple: The act of joining together to form one country or government.
   - _Supporters of federation argued that the colonies needed a common defense._
   - _The island's federation with its larger neighbor was approved in a referendum._
4. A collection of network or telecommunications providers whose services can work with one another.
   - Simple: A group of network or phone companies whose systems are able to work together.
   - _The universities formed a federation so visiting researchers could use any member's Wi-Fi with their home login._
   - _Chat servers in the federation pass messages to one another using a shared protocol._

## Adjective

5. Belonging to the architectural style popular around the time of Australia's federation. *(Australia)*
   - Simple: In the building style that was popular when Australia became one nation.
   - _They restored the federation home's leadlight windows and decorative timber fretwork._
   - _Renovating a Federation bungalow in the inner west cost them far more than they'd budgeted._

## Origin

Borrowed from French fédération, from Late Latin foederatio, from Latin foederare; it is equivalent to federate + -ion.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/federation (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).