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

But will that federal court ruling even matter?

Read more on Salon

Mangione, incarcerated in a federal jail in Brooklyn and flooded with mail, has tracked the letters he has received from supporters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Demonstrators confronted immigration-enforcement officers in New York City on Saturday, preventing masked federal agents from leaving a parking garage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The district made the name change to avoid losing $250 million in federal funding.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases expired, Californians bought emissions-free cars in record numbers in the third quarter of 2025.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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