federal
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.
of, relating to, or noting such a central government: federal offices.
(initial capital letter)U.S. History.
of or relating to the Federalists or to the Federalist party.
supporting the principles of the Federalist party.
(in the Civil War) pertaining to or supporting the Union government.
relating to or adhering to the support of the Constitution.
(initial capital letter) pertaining to or designating the styles of the decorative arts and architecture current in the U.S. from about 1780 to about 1830.
of or relating to a compact or a league, especially a league between nations or states.
an advocate of federation or federalism.
(initial capital letter)U.S. History.
a Federalist.
an adherent of the Union government during the Civil War; Unionist.
a soldier in the Federal army.
Origin of federal
1word story For federal
The earliest use of federal had to do with a treaty or covenant, especially a covenant between God and an individual. The meaning “relating to a union of states under a central government” appeared in 1703, probably arising from the contextual meaning of the term federal union —in other words, a union based on a treaty. Soon after American independence, federal was used to refer specifically to the national government of the United States.
Other words from federal
- 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
Words that may be confused with federal
- federal , national
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use federal in a sentence
The provincial governments were a source of great strength to China in that they made possible a quasi-federal government.
Government in Republican China | Paul Myron Anthony LinebargerTo introduce into it a quasi-federal element is to mix oil with water.
The Framework of Home Rule | Erskine Childers
British Dictionary definitions for federal (1 of 2)
/ (ˈfɛdərəl) /
of or relating to a form of government or a country in which power is divided between one central and several regional governments
of or relating to a treaty between provinces, states, etc, that establishes a political unit in which power is so divided
of or relating to the central government of a federation
of or relating to any union or association of parties or groups that retain some autonomy
(of a university) comprised of relatively independent colleges
a supporter of federal union or federation
Origin of federal
1Derived forms of federal
- federally, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for Federal (2 of 2)
/ (ˈfɛdərəl) /
of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism
characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War
a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War
a Federalist
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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