federal 1 of 2

Definition of federalnext
as in national
of or relating to a federation or to its central government A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments. The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States.

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Federal

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of federal
Adjective
Last year, federal prosecutors dropped the case after an appeals court threw out a sizable fine imposed by a lower court. Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 1 May 2026 Officials added that state law allows coordination with ICE for individuals convicted of serious felonies or those facing credible charges, and said California does not interfere with federal immigration enforcement. Peter D'abrosca , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026 Republicans, though, countered that the bill was unconstitutional due to the Supremacy Clause that says that the powers of the federal government override the powers of the states. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026 The operation comes months after the federal government halted $259 million in Medicaid payments to the state amid the fraud probe. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
  • And just this week, more than 70 Democratic representatives called for maintaining barriers to Chinese cars for both national security and economic reasons.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
  • Davis will lead Solbari’s wholesale strategy, building a national network of sales representatives, securing retail partnerships and establishing a seasonal wholesale cadence.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Just getting to this point, with passage out of the House, has been contentious, says Andrew Schmidt, director of governmental affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile in Waukegan, the permanent $500 million American Place Casino, delayed by a lawsuit, the governmental approval process and financing issues, is expected to break ground this year, according to casino owner Full House Resorts.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2025
  • Exactly what will happen to DC’s most polarizing building after the G-men move out is still not clear, although President Trump has suggested the FBI will eventually return.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • The team's 33-15 loss gave it a 2-11 record, which is the worst nark in the NFC.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
  • You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.
    Brandi California, SPIN, 1 July 2024
Noun
  • This motivated passage of the GI Bill to keep many vets out of the labor market by sending them to school.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The Glycemic Index Trap A common misconception is that lower glycemic index (GI) equals healthier.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Manganese, a battery process tracer, can have neurological effects at chronic doses, the report stated.
    Arcelia Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Aware has been using tracer particles and its blockchain technology for several years now, applying it to recycled cotton, denim and other materials.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Less than a month later, plainclothesmen arrested Nassar at a local tire store, and Munford took him into custody.
    Jason Schmidt, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2018
  • Hustling bucks and ducking the Third Division boys, those earnest young plainclothesmen assigned to the vice squad who work out of the 17th Precinct on the East Side.
    Gail Sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, 9 Sep. 2017
Noun
  • The president and king wore tails and white waistcoats.
    Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The table revealed that an ovoid body—blunt nose, tapering tail—came closer to aerodynamic perfection than anything else a designer could draw.
    Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

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