federal
0 antonyms and opposites of federal, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Relating to a system where a central government shares power with state or regional governments.
How to use federal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From French fédéral, from Latin foedus, "covenant, treaty, alliance."
Full origin of federal →Frequently asked questions
What does “federal” mean?
The word “federal” means relating to a system where a central government shares power with state or regional governments. In plain terms, to do with the national, central level of government rather than the state or local level.
How do you pronounce “federal”?
“Federal” is pronounced FEH-duh-ruhl (/ˈfɛdəɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “federal” in a sentence?
Here is “federal” used in a sentence: “Federal law overrides conflicting state law in many areas.”
What is another word for “federal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “federal” include fed.
What part of speech is “federal”?
Depending on how it is used, “federal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “federal” come from?
The word “federal” comes from Latin. From French fédéral, from Latin foedus, "covenant, treaty, alliance.".
Is “federal” a common word?
“Federal” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “federal” have?
“Federal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to a system where a central government shares power with state or regional governments.
What is the difference between federal and state?
Federal refers to the central or national government that oversees an entire country, while state refers to the regional governments beneath it. In a federal system, the two share power: the federal level handles matters like defence and currency, and states manage more local affairs such as schools or roads.
What is a federal system of government?
A federal system divides power between a central government and smaller regional units, such as states or provinces, with each holding authority the other cannot simply override. This lets large or diverse countries govern locally while staying unified. The United States, Germany, Canada, Australia, and India are well-known federal countries.
What is the opposite of federal?
The opposite is a unitary system, where a single central government holds most or all power and any regional bodies act only as it allows. The United Kingdom and France are largely unitary states. Federalism spreads power outward, while a unitary structure concentrates it at the centre.
What is the difference between federal and national?
The words overlap but differ in emphasis. National simply means relating to the whole nation. Federal specifically implies a system where that central authority shares power with states or regions. Every federal government is national, but a national government is only federal if power is genuinely divided in this way.