Meaning

noun an organization formed by merging several groups or parties

noun a union of political organizations

noun the act of constituting a political unity out of a number of separate states or colonies or provinces so that each member retains the management of its internal affairs

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

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0