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. 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

federal

²

/ 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

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

During this election cycle, Trump campaigned on backing states' decisions on whether to expand or curtail abortion access and vowed to veto a federal abortion ban should it ever reach his desk.

From Salon

A federal retreat from those policies will make the United States less competitive by ceding leadership on clean energy technology to China, Europe and other rivals.

From Los Angeles Times

The demand is high because of government mandates in California, sweetened with generous state and federal grants worth billions.

From Los Angeles Times

It is swiftly gathering momentum, fueled by the extremism of the party set to soon control both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government as well as most of the federal court system.

From Salon

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government is facing pressure to reduce record levels of migration, in the hope of improving housing affordability and easing a cost-of-living crisis, ahead of a federal election next year.

From BBC

Related Words

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