federalize
verb
fed·er·al·ize
ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 
federalized; federalizing
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
The president federalized 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to protect an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.
—
Terry Collins, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
In Oregon, a federal judge similarly found that the President did not have the authority to federalize the Guard there, but that ruling could also end up being overturned by higher courts.
—Erin Neil, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later stayed parts of that ruling, allowing the administration to continue the process of federalizing the Oregon National Guard while preventing troops from being sent into Portland itself.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
National Guard troops in Memphis have not been federalized.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for federalize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Terry Collins, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
In Oregon, a federal judge similarly found that the President did not have the authority to federalize the Guard there, but that ruling could also end up being overturned by higher courts.
—Erin Neil, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later stayed parts of that ruling, allowing the administration to continue the process of federalizing the Oregon National Guard while preventing troops from being sent into Portland itself.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
National Guard troops in Memphis have not been federalized.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for federalize
Cite this Entry
“Federalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/federalize. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
federalize
verb
fed·er·al·ize
ˈfed-(ə-)rə-ˌlīz
federalized; federalizing
: to unite in or under a federal system of authority
federalization
noun
ˌfed-(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share