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View synonyms for

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

  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.



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

/ ˈɛəə /

adjective

    1. of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism

    2. characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War

“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

noun

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

    2. a Federalist

“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

federal

2

/ ˈɛəə /

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

“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

noun

  1. a supporter of federal union or federation

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • federally adverb
  • federalness noun
  • nonfederal adjective
  • quasi-federal adjective
  • quasi-federally adverb
  • ˈڱ adverb
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of federal1

C17: from Latin foedus league
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The Army Corps of Engineers, the lead agency overseeing wildfire cleanup, has overseen federal contractors in clearing wreckage away from more than 3,200 properties, alleviating some of those worries.

From

Jesse Murillo of Orange County said attending the game to support the Mexican national team felt like a clear sign of protest against the federal government.

From

Ramirez has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer.

From

As the rhetorical skirmishes and pile-ons continued, it became clearer that the deep-seated differences among local, state and federal officials left few paths for a resolution.

From

The federal fingerprint database can be accessed only for patients who are dying or are the subject of a police investigation, hospital staff said.

From

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federacyFederal Aviation Administration