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
Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025
An inspector general position is an oversight position in the federal government and serves to audit whichever agency they are housed in.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
On Monday, the White House budget office ordered a pause in all federal grants, loans, and other federal financial assistance, potentially paralyzing a large number of non-profit programs, including those of arts and cultural organizations, according to news reports.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Bureaucratic foot-dragging on the federal level by both Mexico and the United States is directly to blame for the continuing profound flowing of pollution into the Tijuana River.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for federal 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Schumer and other leaders emphasized that a freeze in federal funding would affect American families in red and blue states who rely on federal funding.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025
An inspector general position is an oversight position in the federal government and serves to audit whichever agency they are housed in.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
On Monday, the White House budget office ordered a pause in all federal grants, loans, and other federal financial assistance, potentially paralyzing a large number of non-profit programs, including those of arts and cultural organizations, according to news reports.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Bureaucratic foot-dragging on the federal level by both Mexico and the United States is directly to blame for the continuing profound flowing of pollution into the Tijuana River.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
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 31 Jan. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share