federal
Noun pluralfederals
Pluralfederals
- 1Belonging to a nation's central government, not to a state, county, or city.
Like the main office of a company that controls all its local branches.
Federal law applies in every state of the country.
The federal government collects taxes from across the nation.
UsageUsually written with a small f, except in names: federal law, but the Federal Reserve.
Similarnational
Oppositestate, provincial, local
- 2Having states or regions that join under one central government but still run their own local affairs.
Canada has a federal system, so each province makes many of its own laws.
The new constitution made the country a federal republic of six states.
UsageUsually before a noun: a federal system, a federal republic. The idea is called federalism.
Similarfederated
Oppositeunitary
Note
- 3A person who works as an agent for a country's national government, not for a state or city.
Similaragent
Less common meanings
- 4A soldier who fought for the North in the American Civil War.
The federals marched south toward the river at dawn.
A young federal wrote letters home from the camp.
UsageMost often plural, the federals, the side that fought the Confederates.
SimilarYankee
OppositeConfederate
- 5A person who supports states joining under a shared central government while keeping some powers of their own.
Similarfederalist, unionist
- 6Based on an agreement or deal between groups, especially between countries.
Similarconfederate, allied
Note
- 7Too nosy, asking about other people's private lives or spreading their secrets.
- 8Relating to a Christian idea that God works with people through solemn agreements.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of federal apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From French fédéral, which comes from Latin foedus, meaning a treaty or alliance.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- English federal was borrowed from French fédéral. en.wiktionary.org
- French fédéral derives from Latin foedus. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin foedus means a treaty or alliance. en.wiktionary.org