federal law

American  

[fed-er-uhl law] / ˈfɛd ər əl ˈlɔ /

noun

1. a law or body of laws passed by the central government of the United States or of any other country comprising states, provinces, or other quasi-autonomous units.

   This act to protect migratory birds is a federal law enforcing an international agreement to which the United States is a party.

   She is an expert on federal law.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

federal law

His lawyers argued that the initial complaint missed new claims grounded in federal law, such as civil-rights violations, and that those claims should be heard in federal court.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The company said its contract with Camp Pendleton did not make any reference to the federal law.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

The existence of a private contract between the firm and the court had never been revealed before, because federal law did not require disclosure.

From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026

The Times, for its part, called the subpoenas “an extraordinary escalation” and said the appearance of federal law enforcement at journalists’ homes should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the First Amendment.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

The Court ruled in 2002 that, under federal law, public housing tenants can be evicted regardless of whether they had knowledge of or participated in alleged criminal activity.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander