federalize

verb

fed·​er·​al·​ize ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 

federalized; federalizing

transitive verb

1

: to unite in or under a federal system

2

: to bring under the jurisdiction of a federal government

Examples of federalize in a Sentence

The measure federalizes several state programs.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the president doubled down on his comments about federalizing elections. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026

The 1807 law allows the president to federalize the National Guard and law enforcement against the will of state leaders. — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2026

And the citizenship question, the birthright-citizenship question, is part of that effort to federalize power such that a confederacy, a secession or anything like it, could never happen again. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

Trump’s actions since then, particularly his deployment of the National Guard and attempt to federalize the city’s police department, do not appear to have further endeared him to local residents. — Tristan Lejeune, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for federalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

federalize

verb

fed·​er·​al·​ize ˈfed-(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 

federalized; federalizing

: to unite in or under a federal system of authority

federalization

ˌfed-(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən

noun