fed·er·al
ˈfe-d(ə-)rəl 
1
a
: of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units
b
: of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units
c
: formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government
2
often capitalized
: of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the U.S. in the American Civil War
3
capitalized
: being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the U.S. following the American Revolution
4
capitalized
: advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers
especially
: of or relating to the American Federalists
5
archaic
: of or relating to a compact or treaty
1
: a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War
especially
: a soldier in the federal armies
2
: fed sense 1
—usually used in plural
The Federals arrested the smugglers.
Examples of federal in a Sentence
Adjective
We pay federal, state, and local taxes.
The ruling was overturned by a federal appeals court.
furniture made in the Federal style
Recent Examples on the Web
Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
The federal report determined the juvenile justice department ignored and disregarded the ongoing abuse, despite multiple investigations by state and federal authorities.
—Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
FirstEnergy sought either a state or a federal solution for its financially struggling nuclear plants, which were later owned by a subsidiary.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
The complete federal investigation of that incident, conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, was released 11 months later.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for federal 
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Adjective
Tribes were in even worse shape, and Collier, a social justice advocate, instituted several reforms to federal Indian policy.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
The federal report determined the juvenile justice department ignored and disregarded the ongoing abuse, despite multiple investigations by state and federal authorities.
—Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
FirstEnergy sought either a state or a federal solution for its financially struggling nuclear plants, which were later owned by a subsidiary.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
The complete federal investigation of that incident, conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, was released 11 months later.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for federal
Dictionary Entries Near federal
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/federal. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
federal
1 of 2 adjective
fed·er·al
ˈfed-(ə-)rəl
1
a
: formed by an agreement between political units that surrender supreme authority to a central authority but keep certain powers
b
: of or being a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and individual units
2
often capitalized
: of, relating to, or loyal to the U.S. federal government during the American Civil War
Federal
2 of 2 noun
Fed·er·al
ˈfed-(ə-)rəl
1
: a supporter of the government of the U.S. in the American Civil War
especially
: a soldier in the federal armies
2
: a federal agent or officer
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