federal
FEH-duh-ruhl
Federal (adj) means relating to a system where a central government shares power with state or regional governments. Example: “Federal law overrides conflicting state law in many areas.”
adj
1
Relating to a system where a central government shares power with state or regional governments.
"Federal law overrides conflicting state law in many areas."
"The federal government funds interstate highways."
"Citizens in a large country often pay both federal and local taxes."
noun
1
An officer working for a federal law-enforcement agency.
"A federal was sent to investigate the fraud case."
"Two federals in dark suits knocked on the door and showed their badges."
"The hero of the novel is a tired federal who hunts smugglers."
How to use federal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the national, central level of government rather than the state or local level.
UK vs US
Most relevant in countries with a federal structure, like the US, Australia, and Germany — the UK has no equivalent "federal" tier.
Common pairings
federal government
federal law
federal agent
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Word forms
- Plural
- federals
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ law overrides conflicting state law in many areas.
Etymology
From French fédéral, from Latin foedus, "covenant, treaty, alliance."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for federal
feral
literal
general
liberal
funeral
lateral
mineral
several
visceral
ephemeral
bilateral
collateral
See all rhymes for 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.
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