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• federal
  federal

  adjective

  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
  Federal

federal

American  

[fed-er-uhl] / ˈfɛd ər əl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. 1. a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War

   2. a Federalist

federal ² British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a supporter of federal union or federation

Other Word Forms

• federalness
  noun
• nonfederal
  adjective
• quasi-federal
  adjective
• federally
  adverb
• quasi-federally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of federal

First recorded in 16205–30; earlier foederal, from Latin foeder- (stem of foedus ) “formal agreement, treaty, league” + -al ¹

Explanation

Federal refers to the national government. The voting age is determined by the federal government while the driving age is decided on a state by state basis. Before the Constitution was ratified, the United States was a loose confederation of states, with no real federal government. The Constitution created a stronger federal government but to this day, there is a conflict between those who want power to go to the states and those who support federal control. States don't seem to mind federal subsidies though.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

federal Federal

You should apply for federal student loans before borrowing from private student loans; the former have better terms.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

A Mercedes-Benz owner heard a “gunshot” sound like Nguyen—a frequent descriptor of these events, according to federal reports—before their car’s glass ruptured.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Officials called on the federal government to expedite $2 billion needed to make L.A. traffic-ready for the 2028 Games.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

The FCC also notes that federal law prohibits the agency from censoring broadcast material.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

As for the constitutional question, he regarded federal jurisdiction over the western territories as a clear precedent that had been established, irony of ironies, by Jefferson’s executive action in the Louisiana Purchase.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

As low-Earth orbit grows more crowded, SpaceX’s satellites are changing course more often, according to filings with the Federal Communications Commission.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Federal law prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcasters, and the First Amendment sharply limits the government’s ability to punish news organizations for their editorial decisions.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech left little doubt that the Fed is prepared to lift interest rates if necessary.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

“The reality is seniors are retiring and young people are struggling to get jobs. Those two groups don’t get unemployment aid,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

Agents were now empowered to make arrests and carry firearms, and the department was soon renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• civil
• communal
• domestic
• ethnic
• governmental
• internal
• interstate
• nationwide
• public
• social