ETYM Cf. French fédération.
An organization formed by merging several groups or parties.
Political entity made up from a number of smaller units or states where the central government has powers over national issues such as foreign policy and defense, while the individual states retain a high degree of regional and local autonomy. A federation should be distinguished from a confederation, a looser union of states for mutual assistance. Contemporary examples of federated states established since 1750 include the US, Canada, Australia, India, and the Federal Republic of Germany.