federal

[ fed-er-uh l ]
/ ˈfɛd ər əl /

adjective

noun

an advocate of federation or federalism.
(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.

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Origin of federal

1635–45; earlier foederal < Latin foeder- (stem of foedus) league + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM federal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH federal

federal national

Words nearby federal

fed. res. bk., fedayee, feddan, fedelini, federacy, federal, federal aviation administration, federal bureau of investigation, federal capital territory, federal case, federal communications commission
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for federals' (1 of 2)

Federal
/ (ˈfɛdərəl) /

adjective

  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. a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War
  2. a Federalist

British Dictionary definitions for federals' (2 of 2)

federal
/ (ˈfɛdərəl) /

adjective

of or relating to a form of government or a country in which power is divided between one central and several regional governments
of or relating to a treaty between provinces, states, etc, that establishes a political unit in which power is so divided
of or relating to the central government of a federation
of or relating to any union or association of parties or groups that retain some autonomy
(of a university) comprised of relatively independent colleges

noun

a supporter of federal union or federation

Derived forms of federal

federally, adverb

Word Origin for federal

C17: from Latin foedus league
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012