federation

Compared meaning: states or groups joined together for a shared purpose (noun).

比较义项：为共同目的联合起来的国家或组织团体（名词）。

• federation 本词

  Implies a stronger central authority that member states or groups give real power to; units rarely withdraw once joined; also common for labor or trade unions.

  强调中央权力较强，各州或团体让渡了实际权力，一旦加入很少退出；也常用于工会、行业联合会等场合。

  The country became a federation, with a strong central government controlling defense and foreign policy.

  这个国家成为一个联邦，由中央政府掌控国防和外交事务。

• confederation

  Implies a looser alliance in which member states keep most of their own sovereignty and laws, cooperating only on limited shared matters like trade or defense, and can withdraw more easily.

  强调更松散的联盟，成员国保留大部分自身主权和法律，只在贸易、防务等有限的共同事务上合作，也更容易退出。

  The small states formed a loose confederation, keeping their own laws and cooperating only on trade.

  这些小国组成了一个松散的邦联，保留各自的法律，只在贸易上合作。

Federation and confederation both name states or groups united for a shared purpose. Federation implies stronger central power, with members giving up more independence. Confederation implies a looser union: members keep more independence and can leave more easily.

federation 和 confederation 都指为共同目的联合而成的国家或团体，但侧重不同：federation（联邦）中央权力较强，成员让渡较多自主权；confederation（邦联）则更松散，成员保留更多主权，也更容易退出。两个词语域中性，多用于政治或组织语境。