federation
noun
[ fɛdəˈreɪʃ(ə)n ]
• a group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs.
• "the Russian Federation"
• the action of forming states or organizations into a single group with centralized control.
• "a first step in the federation of Europe"
Origin:
early 18th century: from French fédération, from late Latin foederatio(n- ), from the verb foederare ‘to ally’, from foedus ‘league’.
