1. not organized into or belonging to a federation; not united under a federal system
Usage: often used in political or organizational contexts

Examples

• The nonfederated territories maintained their own separate governments.
• Several nonfederated unions chose to remain independent rather than join the larger organization.
• The company operates through nonfederated divisions that report directly to headquarters.
• These nonfederated states refused to participate in the proposed alliance.
• The nonfederated approach allowed each region to maintain its distinct identity.
• Many small businesses prefer nonfederated structures for greater autonomy.