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
Experts say the overall patchwork of federal and state funding for call centers remains insufficient to meet the true level of need. Devi Shastri, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026 The lawsuit asks a federal judge to strike down the regulations. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the operation to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket, the federal prosecutor’s office in New York said. Gary D. Robertson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 Passed as part of the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, the federal government is now instituting strict price controls on prescription drugs accessed through Medicare. Elaine Parker, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
  • The curators Christine Riding and Lucy Bamford have brought together ten canvases that were originally shown in London between 1765 and 1773—the pieces thanks to which, during his mid-thirties, the North Midlands artist first secured a national reputation.
    Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The councilmember was arrested and faces two counts of disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration, police said.
    Melissa Russo, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Signers of the letter — environmental consultants and non-governmental organizations as well as companies — argue some of the changes could slow clean energy development and drive up electricity prices.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 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
  • Galvin is the counseling director at the Center on Conscience and War, which helps run the 24-hour GI Rights Hotline, set up to inform service members of their options for military discharge.
    Tom Bowman, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The backlogs are real for these clinics, Soni said, recalling one GI clinic that had a backlog of six months, and 4,000 procedures that were waiting to be scheduled, representing millions in revenue.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • In the tense Lebanese capital, Beirut, Israeli surveillance drones buzz overhead while red tracer bullets light up the night skies, fired to warn residents of possible attacks.
    Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 3 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
  • Tolle showed off his renowned 99 mph fastball while mixing in an improved arsenal of secondary pitches, and the Yankees couldn’t make heads or tails of him the first time through the order.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
  • As the aircraft closed in, ​both crews attempted ​evasive action, ⁠but the wingman’s tail struck the lead jet’s wing, causing about 880 million won ($600,000) in damage.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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