What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
federative
Example
The United States has a federative system of government. [federative: adjective]
Example
The federative organization was formed to promote trade and commerce among its member states. [federative: adjective]
confederate
Example
The Confederate States of America was formed in 1861 as a confederate government. [confederate: adjective]
Example
The two companies formed a confederate alliance to better compete in the market. [confederate: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confederate is more commonly used than federative in everyday language, likely due to its historical association with the Confederacy and its use in various contexts beyond politics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between federative and confederate?
Both federative and confederate are formal words that are typically used in academic or political contexts. However, confederate may have a more informal connotation due to its use in non-political contexts, such as describing a confederate alliance between companies.
