federal

[ fed-er-uh l ]
/ ˈfɛd ər əl /

adjective

noun

an advocate of federation or federalism.
(initial capital letter) U.S. History.
  1. a Federalist.
  2. an adherent of the Union government during the Civil War; Unionist.
  3. a soldier in the Federal army.

Origin of federal

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

OTHER WORDS FROM federal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH federal

federal national

British Dictionary definitions for federal government (1 of 3)

Federal Government

noun

the national government of a federated state, such as that of Australia located in Canberra

British Dictionary definitions for federal government (2 of 3)

Federal
/ (ˈfɛdərəl) /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism
  2. characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War

noun

  1. a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War
  2. a Federalist

British Dictionary definitions for federal government (3 of 3)

federal
/ (ˈfɛdərəl) /

adjective

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

noun

a supporter of federal union or federation

Derived forms of federal

federally, adverb

Word Origin for federal

C17: from Latin foedus league