federal

[fed-er-uhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states, as in

2. of, relating to, or noting such a central government.

   federal offices.

3. (initial capital letter)

   1. of or relating to the Federalists or to the Federalist party.

   2. supporting the principles of the Federalist party.

   3. (in the Civil War) pertaining to or supporting the Union government.

   4. relating to or adhering to the support of the Constitution.

4. (initial capital letter),  pertaining to or designating the styles of the decorative arts and architecture current in the U.S. from about 1780 to about 1830.

5. of or relating to a compact or a league, especially a league between nations or states.

noun

1. an advocate of federation or federalism.

2. (initial capital letter)

   1. a Federalist.

   2. an adherent of the Union government during the Civil War; Unionist.

   3. a soldier in the Federal army.

Federal

¹

/ ˈfɛdərəl /

adjective

1. 1. of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism

   2. characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War

noun

1. 1. a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War

   2. a Federalist

federal

²

/ ˈfɛdərəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a form of government or a country in which power is divided between one central and several regional governments

2. of or relating to a treaty between provinces, states, etc, that establishes a political unit in which power is so divided

3. of or relating to the central government of a federation

4. of or relating to any union or association of parties or groups that retain some autonomy

5. (of a university) comprised of relatively independent colleges

noun

1. a supporter of federal union or federation

Other Word Forms

• federally adverb
• federalness noun
• nonfederal adjective
• quasi-federal adjective
• quasi-federally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of federal¹

First recorded in 16205–30; earlier foederal, from Latin foeder- (stem of foedus ) “formal agreement, treaty, league” + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of federal¹

C17: from Latin foedus league

Example Sentences

The legality of deployments to Portland and Chicago will face scrutiny in two federal courts Thursday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Thousands of homes were lost in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, and residents are now trying to take in the latest reveal, federal officials’ finding as to what started the blaze.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was also convicted of attempted murder and a federal firearms charge, and had been sentenced to life imprisonment, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

Read more on BBC

The federal government alleges Mr Comey lied to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2020 when he was being questioned about both the Clinton investigation as well as the Russia election probe.

Read more on BBC

After Los Angeles firefighters suppressed the Jan. 1 fire known as the Lachman fire, it continued to smolder and burn underground, “unbeknownst to anyone,” according to federal officials.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civil 
• communal 
• domestic 
• ethnic 
• governmental www.thesaurus.com
• internal 
• interstate 
• nationwide 
• public 
• social