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

   federal offices.

3. (initial capital letter) U.S. History.
   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) U.S. History.
   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. 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

Federal

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈfederally, adverb

Other Words From

• feder·al·ly adverb
• feder·al·ness noun
• non·feder·al adjective
• quasi-feder·al adjective
• quasi-feder·al·ly 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

Several public agencies came together in 2018 to sue the federal government over its inaction.

From Voice of San Diego

The federal government already uses its own vaccine supplies for some employees, such as members of Congress and the military, local officials said.

From Washington Post

The other would raise federal subsidies for COBRA, which tends to be expensive.

From Washington Post

The agency has been surviving off federal Cares Act money that Congress passed in April, but the $767 million was set to run out early this year.

From Washington Post

In 2004, O’Matz was named to the newspaper’s investigations team, where she helped uncover fraud in the federal government's disaster relief program in Miami.

From ProPublica

“This is a federal mandate that is causing some real problems for schools across the country,” Kline told a CBS affiliate in July.

From The Daily Beast

As for the federal authorities, they have made themselves available but the clergy have not requested special protection.

From The Daily Beast

Lalo said he reported the kidnapping to his ICE handlers, which was confirmed by a former federal agent familiar with the case.

From The Daily Beast

What 15 months in a federal correction institution will be like, according to a man who counsels to-be inmates.

From The Daily Beast

And that means they also fall under the umbrella of programs most likely to get the axe when state and federal budgets are tight.

From The Daily Beast

Election of representatives from New York to consider the federal constitution held.

From Project Gutenberg

History gives them scant notice, and the Federal government has failed to reward them as they deserve.

From Project Gutenberg

Customers will do things in the name of the Federal Reserve System which they have never done before.

From Project Gutenberg

This seems to be contrary to the spirit and intent of the act, which is primarily to centralize reserves in Federal Reserve Banks.

From Project Gutenberg

It was never the intention of the Federal Reserve Act that member banks should continue the maintenance of these reserve accounts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• civic
• civil
• communal
• governmental
• mutual
• national
• popular
• social
• universal
• urban