federal
1 of 2adjective
fed·er·al ˈfe-d(ə-)rəl 
1
a
: of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units
b
: of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units
c
: formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government
2
often capitalized : of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the U.S. in the American Civil War
3
capitalized : being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the U.S. following the American Revolution
4
capitalized : advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers
especially : of or relating to the American Federalists
5
archaic : of or relating to a compact or treaty
federally
ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-lē
adverb Federal
2 of 2noun
1
: a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War
especially : a soldier in the federal armies
2
: fed sense 1 —usually used in plural
The Federals arrested the smugglers.
Example Sentences
Adjective We pay federal, state, and local taxes. The ruling was overturned by a federal appeals court. furniture made in the Federal style
Recent Examples on the Web
Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Four years later, when the federal government passed the 2018 Farm Bill, state lawmakers in Indiana modified the hemp act allowing the crop to be grown with heavy regulations in the state. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2022 As a result of the labor shortage, shippers have faced erratic service levels and sought intervention from the federal government. Esther Fung, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 On Sunday, the federal government in Berlin announced a $65 billion relief plan to help German households. David A. Andelman, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 In response to complaints, the federal government killed almost 25,000 beavers last year. The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 In Washington, Cruz and other Republicans maneuvered the Democrats into a standoff over Obamacare funding, causing the US federal government to shut down for more than two weeks. Anthony Lydgate, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 In March 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order directing each agency of the federal government to evaluate ways to encourage voter registration and turnout. Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 The federal government now buys the vaccines and boosters and private insurers pay providers for administration. Stephen Singer, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Adjective
Many Middle Eastern and North African Americans are hopeful they will finally be recognized by the federal government, including in the U.S. Census, after years of their community largely being ignored in official data. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Four years later, when the federal government passed the 2018 Farm Bill, state lawmakers in Indiana modified the hemp act allowing the crop to be grown with heavy regulations in the state. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Sep. 2022 As a result of the labor shortage, shippers have faced erratic service levels and sought intervention from the federal government. Esther Fung, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 On Sunday, the federal government in Berlin announced a $65 billion relief plan to help German households. David A. Andelman, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 In response to complaints, the federal government killed almost 25,000 beavers last year. The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 In Washington, Cruz and other Republicans maneuvered the Democrats into a standoff over Obamacare funding, causing the US federal government to shut down for more than two weeks. Anthony Lydgate, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022 In March 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order directing each agency of the federal government to evaluate ways to encourage voter registration and turnout. Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 The federal government now buys the vaccines and boosters and private insurers pay providers for administration. Stephen Singer, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin foeder-, foedus compact, league; akin to Latin fidere to trust — more at bide
First Known Use
Adjective
1624, in the meaning defined at sense 5
Noun
1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing federal
Kids Definition
federal
adjective
fed·er·al ˈfe-də-rəl
ˈfe-drəl
: relating to a nation formed by the union of several parts
Legal Definition
federal
adjective
fed·er·al
1
: of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units (as states)
a federal government
2
: of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent territorial units (as states)
especially : of or relating to the laws made and enforced by the federal government
a federal crime
Federals
noun
1
as in feds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- feds
- plainclothesmen
- narcs
- narks
- G-men
- shadows
- tracers
- detectives
- trackers
- operatives
- private detectives
- investigators
- dicks
- private eyes
- private investigators
- hawkshaws
- sherlocks
- sleuths
- gumshoes
- tails
- sleuthhounds
- shamuses
2
as in Confederates
Synonyms & Similar Words
- Confederates
- militiamen
- guardsmen
- minutemen
- guerrillas
- Continentals
- lancers
- pikemen
- irregulars
- spearmen
- paramilitaries
- guerillas
- archers
- partizans
- crossbowmen
- cannoneers
- combatants
- riflemen
- GIs
- artillerymen
- noncombatants
- veterans
- partisans
- GI's
- counterguerillas
- musketeers
- gunners
- marines
- rangers
- counterguerrillas
- warhorses
- mortarmen
- enrollees
- recruits
- conscripts
- raiders
- draftees
- lifers
- jarheads
- commandoes
- commandos
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- civilians