A federal country or system of government is one in which the different states or provinces of the country have important powers to make their own laws and decisions.
The provinces are to become autonomous regions in the new federal system. [+ of]
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Some people use federal to describe a system of government which they disapprove of, in which the different states or provinces are controlled by a strong central government.
[disapproval]
He does not believe in a federal Europe with centralising powers.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Federal also means belonging or relating to the national government of a federal country rather than to one of the states within it.
The federal government controls just 6% of the education budget.
...a federal judge.
federallyadverb [ADVERB -ed]
...residents of public housing and federally subsidized apartments.
4. countable noun
Federals are the same as feds.
More Synonyms of federal
federal in British English
(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) comprising relatively independent colleges
noun
6.
a supporter of federal union or federation
Derived forms
federally (ˈfederally)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin foedus league
Federal in British English
(ˈfɛdərəl)
adjective
1.
a.
of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism
b.
characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War
noun
2.
a.
a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War
b.
a Federalist
federal in American English
(ˈfɛdərəl)
adjective
1.
of or formed by a compact; specif., designating or of a union of states, groups, etc. in which each member agrees to subordinate its governmental power to that of the central authority in certain specified common affairs
2.
a.
designating, of, or having to do with a central authority or government in such aunion
b. US; [oftenF-]
designating, of, or having to do with the central government of the U.S.
3. US; [F-]
of or supporting the Federalist Party or its principle of strong centralized government
4. US; [F-]
of or pertaining to the style in architecture and furniture based on classical Roman models that flourished in the U.S. from 1780 into the 1830s
5. US; [F-]
of or supporting the government of the U.S. in the Civil War; Union; pro-Union
noun
6. US; [F-]
a Federalist
7. US; [F-]
a supporter or soldier of the U.S. government in the Civil War
8. US; [oftenF-]
a U.S. federal agent or officer
Derived forms
federally (ˈfederally)
adverb
Word origin
< L foedus (gen. foederis), a league, compact, treaty: see faith & -al
Examples of 'federal' in a sentence
federal
His appointment makes it much more likely that the federal government will offset tax cuts with big reductions in spending elsewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They urged the federal government in Delhi to intervene.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Both blamed America's economic troubles on the federal government.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
When federal agents decided enough was enough, they were given the full backing of the attorney-general.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Although he’s thinking about its relevance to US federal government policy makers, it prompted me to think about our relevance in a wider sense.
Computing (2010)
Staying out of federal court became a top organizational priority.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
Its success depended on massive and sustained support from the federal government.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
What will this do for the federal budget?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Their rebellion strengthened the demand for a strong new federal government.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
Some federal employment laws apply only to employers having a specified number of employees.
Christianity Today (2000)
Further appeals can be pursued through the federal court system.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
There were also large budget transfers from federal to provincial government.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She is accused of lying to federal agents when she said that she had no idea what was on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The federal government tried 19 men for violation of civil rights.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The drug remains illegal under federal law, which makes the overall legal situation somewhat hazy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The release came just hours after a bail hearing in federal court in Chicago.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The federal government had run deficits pretty much continuously for 30 years.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Promising to abolish three federal government departments, he could remember only two of them.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A federal judge also accused him of lying in court.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
US lawmakers want to replace the two with a new system of federal mortgage reinsurance.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A new or expanded federal programme usually applies throughout the nation.
Cloke, Paul J (ed) Rural Land-Use Planning in Developed Nations (1989)
Armed federal agents stood by.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There is also a federal agency for special economic zones, with a budget of 700 million.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
A federal judge in Chicago has sent the case for trial next month at a court in Illinois.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
federal
British English: federal ADJECTIVE
In a federal country or system, a group of states is controlled by a central government.
Five of the six provinces are to become autonomous regions in a new federal system of government.
American English: federal
Brazilian Portuguese: federal
Chinese: 联邦制的
European Spanish: federal
French: fédéral
German: föderalistisch
Italian: federale
Japanese: 連邦制の
Korean: 연합의
European Portuguese: federal
Latin American Spanish: federal
All related terms of 'federal'
Federal court
a court which rules on cases involving the Constitution , federal laws and interstate crimes
federal agency
An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration .
federal holiday
a day which is a national holiday at the behest of the Federal Government
Federal Reserve
In the United States , the Federal Reserve is the central banking system, which is responsible for setting policy on monetary matters such as money supply and interest rates .
Distrito Federal
a district in S central Brazil , containing Bras ília: detached from Goiás state in 1960. Pop: 2 145 839 (2002). Area: 5815 sq km (2245 sq miles)
federal district
an area used as the seat of central government in a federal system
Federal Government
the national government of a federated state, such as that of Australia located in Canberra
federal funds rate
The federal funds rate is the overnight rate between banks .
federal land bank
one of 12 banks that extends long-term mortgage credit to crop farmers and cattle raisers, to buy land, or for other agricultural purposes
Federal Reserve Bank
the bank operating under the Federal Reserve Board that regulates banks within a Federal Reserve District
Federal Reserve note
a bank note issued by the Federal Reserve Banks and now serving as the prevailing paper currency in circulation in the US
federal crop insurance
insurance against the failure of certain crops provided to farmers and producers by the Federal Government
Federal Maritime Board
the body responsible for regulating commerce by US and international shipping in US waters
Federal Reserve System
(in the US) a banking system consisting of twelve Federal Reserve Districts , each containing member banks regulated and served by a Federal Reserve Bank . It operates under the supervision of the Federal Reserve Board and performs functions similar to those of the Bank of England
Federal Trade Commission
a U.S. federal agency whose duty is to investigate unfair methods of competition in business, fraudulent advertising , etc., and to restrain or prosecute those charged with such practices
Federalist Party
the American political party founded in 1787 and led initially by Alexander Hamilton . It took an active part in the shaping of the US Constitution and thereafter favoured strong centralized government and business interests
Federal Bureau of Prisons
the agency of the US Department of Justice responsible for the administration of prisons
Federal Capital Territory
an administrative division of Nigeria , in the centre. Capital: Abuja ( also national capital). Pop: 1 405 201 (2006). Area: 7315 sq km (2824 sq miles)
Progressive Federal Party
a political party, formed in 1977 by a merger between the Progressive Party and members of the United Party, supporting qualified franchise for all South Africans irrespective of race , colour, or creed ; merged with other parties in 1989 to form the Democratic Party
Federal Aviation Administration
the body which regulates all aspects of civil aviation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice whose duty is to investigate violations of certain federal laws
Federal Communications Commission
a U.S. federal agency whose duty is to regulate communication by telephone, telegraph , radio, TV, cable TV, and satellite
Federal Housing Administration
a federal agency that insures residential mortgages and assists certain groups of home buyers
Federal Republic of Germany
the official name of Germany , formerly used to refer to West Germany
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
a former country in SE Europe, comprising Serbia and Montenegro , that was formed in 1991 but not widely internationally recognized until 2000; it was replaced by the Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 ( dissolved 2006)
Federal Insurance Contributions Act
a law requiring that employees and employers alike contribute towards the cost of Social Security and Medicare
the Federal Communications Commission
a body which oversees and regulates non-federal broadcast media in the United States, interstate , and international communications
FRB
Federal Reserve Board : the government-appointed board that runs the Federal Reserve Bank and sets interest rates
FDA
Food and Drug Administration : a federal agency responsible for monitoring trading and safety standards in the food and drug industries
Fedwire
The Fedwire is an electronic system for transferring large sums of money and securities between banks .
FRG
Federal Republic of Germany
Fannie Mae
(in the US) an informal name for the Federal National Mortgage Association : a private company that buys and sells mortgage debt
FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Freddie Mac
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation : a corporation sponsored by the federal government which issues securities backed by pools of residential mortgages purchased from lending institutions
Nepal
a republic in S Asia: the world's only Hindu kingdom until it abandoned its monarchy in 2008; united in 1768 by the Gurkhas ; consists of swampy jungle in the south and great massifs , valleys, and gorges of the Himalayas over the rest of the country, with many peaks over 8000 m (26 000 ft) ( notably Everest and Kangchenjunga ). A multiparty democracy was instituted in 1990. Official language: Nepali . Official religion: Hinduism ; Mahayana Buddhist minority . Currency: rupee . Capital: Katmandu . Pop: 29 304 998 (2017 est). Area: 147 181 sq km (56 815 sq miles)
Germany
a country in central Europe : in the Middle Ages the centre of the Holy Roman Empire ; dissolved into numerous principalities ; united under the leadership of Prussia in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War; became a republic with reduced size in 1919 after being defeated in World War I; under the dictatorship of Hitler from 1933 to 1945; defeated in World War II and divided by the Allied Powers into four zones , which became established as East and West Germany in the late 1940s; reunified in 1990: a member of the European Union . It is flat and low-lying in the north with plateaus and uplands (including the Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps ) in the centre and south. Official language: German . Religion : Christianity . Currency : euro . Capital: Berlin . Pop: 82 114 224 (2017 est). Area: 357 041 sq km (137 825 sq miles)
West Germany
a former republic in N central Europe, on the North Sea: established in 1949 from the zones of Germany occupied by the British, Americans, and French after the defeat of Nazi Germany; a member of the European Community ; reunited with East Germany in 1990
Chinese translation of 'federal'
federal
(ˈfɛdərəl)
adj
[country, system]联(聯)邦制的 (liánbāngzhì de)
[government, judge]联(聯)邦的 (liánbāng de)
(adjective)
Definition
of a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional governments