Federal Definition

fĕdər-əl, fĕdrəl

adjective

Of or formed by a compact; specif., designating or of a union of states, groups, etc. in which each member agrees to subordinate its governmental power to that of the central authority in certain specified common affairs.

Webster's New World

Of or constituting a form of government in which sovereign power is divided between a central authority and a number of constituent political units.

American Heritage

Designating, of, or having to do with the central government of the U.S.

Webster's New World

Favorable to or advocating federation.

The senator's federal leanings were well known.

American Heritage

Of or supporting the Federalist Party or its principle of strong centralized government.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
union

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
unitary

noun

A Federalist.

Webster's New World

A supporter or soldier of the U.S. government in the Civil War.

Webster's New World

A U.S. federal agent or officer.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
federal-official
fed
Federal soldier
Union soldier

Other Word Forms of Federal

Noun

Singular:

federal

Plural:

federals

Origin of Federal

From French fédéral, from Latin stem foeder- of foedus (“covenant, league, treaty, alliance”)

From Wiktionary
From Latin foedus foeder- league, treaty bheidh- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition