federalize

American  

[fed-er-uh-lahyz] / ˈfɛd ər əˌlaɪz /

especially British, federalise

verb (used with object)

federalized, federalizing

1. to bring under the control of a federal government.

   to federalize the National Guard.

2. to bring together in a federal union, as different states.

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federalize British  

/ ˈfɛdərəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to unite in a federation or federal union; federate

2. to subject to federal control

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Other Word Forms

• federalization noun
• refederalization noun
• refederalize verb

Etymology

Origin of federalize

First recorded in 1795–1805; federal + -ize

Example Sentences

Now that might not be an option, after the Supreme Court in December ruled against his effort to federalize the Guard in Illinois.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

The thrust of their opinion is that the courts have to give immense deference to the president when he seeks to federalize the Guard.

From Slate • Oct. 31, 2025

“Although we hold that the President likely has authority to federalize the National Guard, nothing in our decision addresses the nature of the activities in which the federalized National Guard may engage,” Bennett wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

He instead evoked a very rarely used law that was last applied in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson to protect civil rights workers from local police, allowing him to federalize those troops.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2025

While the tricolour waved at Amsterdam, Mainz, Berne, Rome, Valetta, and Cairo, Fox thought it opportune to federalize British institutions.

From William Pitt and the Great War by Rose, John Holland