federal

adjective fed·er·al \ ˈfe-d(ə-)rəl \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

1 archaic : of or relating to a compact or treaty

2 a : formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government

b : of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units

c : of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units

3 capitalized : advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers; especially : of or relating to the American Federalists

4 often capitalized : of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the U.S. in the American Civil War

5 capitalized : being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the U.S. following the American Revolution

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federally

play \ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb

See federal defined for English-language learners

See federal defined for kids

Examples of federal in a Sentence

We pay federal, state, and local taxes.
The ruling was overturned by a federal appeals court.
furniture made in the Federal style

Recent Examples of federal from the Web

Completion of the radical plan -- far from certain, given its many hurdles at judicial, state and federal levels -- would make history.

— author: john myers, Anchorage Daily News, "Radical plan to split California into three states earns spot on November ballot," 13 June 2018
Completion of the radical plan — far from certain, given its many hurdles at judicial, state and federal levels — would make history.

— john myers, latimes.com, "Radical plan to split California into three states earns spot on November ballot," 13 June 2018
Cal-3 would have to clear the hurdle of not just the popular vote but also approval by state and federal lawmakers.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "California could split in three if radical ballot proposal wins.," 13 June 2018
The various fusion centers, which are clearinghouses for state and federal authorities to analyze public safety threats, hold spring meetings every year.

— travis andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston police address meeting of public safety officials on terror threats," 12 June 2018
The Orlando man who police say killed four child hostages and critically injured a police officer had a long history of domestic violence and possessed five firearms in violation of federal law, according to authorities and court documents.

— aamer madhani, USA TODAY, "Orlando man who killed four kids previously menaced girlfriend with knife, set home ablaze," 12 June 2018
The government study was released as Mr. Temer endorsed a law passed in March that seeks to enhance public safety coordination between state and federal officials.

— ernesto londoño, New York Times, "Brazil’s Spending on Public Safety Soared. So Did Violence.," 11 June 2018
Fire officials said the trench had no protective shoring in place, despite federal law requiring protection for workers in trenches more than five feet deep.

— nicholas bogel-burroughs, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore suspends work with contractor after death of man in trench, citing 'life safety concerns'," 11 June 2018
More conservative states require work-seeking activities to receive benefits, if allowed to do so by federal law.

— WSJ, "Focus on the Work the Injured Can Perform," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'federal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of federal

Latin foeder-, foedus compact, league; akin to Latin fidere to trust — more at bide

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1624

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Federal

noun

1 : a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War; especially : a soldier in the federal armies

2 : fed 1 —usually used in plural

The Federals arrested the smugglers.

See Federal defined for English-language learners

See Federal defined for kids

First Known Use of federal

1861

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

FEDERAL Defined for English Language Learners

federal

adjective

: of or relating to a form of government in which power is shared between a central government and individual states, provinces, etc.
: of or relating to the central government
: of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government during the American Civil War

Federal

noun

: a supporter of the government of the U.S. in the American Civil War; especially : a soldier in the federal armies
: a federal agent or officer

FEDERAL Defined for Kids

federal

adjective fed·er·al \ ˈfe-də-rəl , ˈfe-drəl \

: relating to a nation formed by the union of several parts

Law Dictionary

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