fed·er·al

[fed-er-uhl]
adjective
1.
pertaining to or of the nature of a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states, as in federal government; federal system.
2.
of, pertaining to, or noting such a central government: federal offices.
3.
( initial capital letter ) U.S. History.
a.
of or pertaining to the Federalists or to the Federalist party.
b.
supporting the principles of the Federalist party.
c.
(in the Civil War) pertaining to or supporting the Union government.
d.
relating to or adhering to the support of the constitution.
4.
( initial capital letter ) pertaining to or designating the styles of the decorative arts and architecture current in the U.S. from c1780 to c1830.
5.
of or pertaining to a compact or a league, especially a league between nations or states.
noun
6.
an advocate of federation or federalism.
7.
( initial capital letter ) U.S. History.
a.
a Federalist.
b.
an adherent of the Union government during the Civil War; Unionist.
c.
a soldier in the Federal army.
00:10
Federal is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.

Origin:
1635–45; earlier foederal < Latin foeder- (stem of foedus) league + -al1

fed·er·al·ly, adverb
fed·er·al·ness, noun
non·fed·er·al, adjective
qua·si-fed·er·al, adjective
qua·si-fed·er·al·ly, adverb

federal, national.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To federal
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World English Dictionary
federal (ˈfɛdərəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  of or relating to a form of government or a country in which power is divided between one central and several regional governments
2.  of or relating to a treaty between provinces, states, etc, that establishes a political unit in which power is so divided
3.  of or relating to the central government of a federation
4.  of or relating to any union or association of parties or groups that retain some autonomy
5.  (of a university) comprised of relatively independent colleges
 
n
6.  a supporter of federal union or federation
 
[C17: from Latin foedus league]
 
'federally
 
adv

Federal (ˈfɛdərəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  a.  of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism
 b.  characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War
 
n
2.  a.  a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War
 b.  a Federalist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

federal
1640s, as a theological term, from L. foedus "covenant, league" (gen. foederis), related to fides "faith" (see faith). Meaning "pertaining to a treaty" (1650s) led to political sense of "state formed by agreement among independent states" (1707), from phrases like federal
union "union based on a treaty," popularized by formation of U.S.A. 1776-1787.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Held without charges for seven years, he was finally freed when a federal judge
  reviewed the evidence against him.
The only reason they are installed is because of federal subsidies and state
  mandates.
At the same time, the federal bench is being weakened by both stagnant salaries
  and frozen politics.
There are a couple of peculiar things about these tax breaks-which have been
  around as long as the federal income tax.
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