Federal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈfe-d(ə-)rəl/ fed·er·al

Meaning & Definition of Federal

Federal (adjective)

  1. of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units
  2. of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units
  3. formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government

Federal (noun)

  1. a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War; especially, a soldier in the federal armies
  2. fed —usually used in plural

Federal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of or relating to a federation or to its central government

    "A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments."

    "The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States."

    similar: national, nationwide, civic, government, governmental, domestic, internal, intestine, democratic, republican, civil, public
    opposite: communal, local, municipal, regional

Federal (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in fed, G-man

    similar: fed, G-man, narc (slang), plainclothesman, shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus (slang), sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound

  2. as in militiaman, guardsman

    similar: Confederate, Continental, GI, guardsman, militiaman, minuteman, lancer, pikeman, spearman, counterguerrilla, guerrilla, irregular, paramilitary, partisan, archer, crossbowman, combatant, noncombatant, artilleryman, cannoneer, gunner, mortarman, musketeer, rifleman, lifer, veteran, warhorse, jarhead (slang), marine, ranger, conscript, draftee, enrollee, recruit, commando, raider
    opposite: civilian

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Federal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Federal:

Slang: narc, shamus, jarhead
national, nationwide, civic, government, governmental, domestic, internal, intestine, democratic, republican, civil, public, fed, G-man, plainclothesman, shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, Confederate, Continental, GI, guardsman, militiaman, minuteman, lancer, pikeman, spearman

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Federal

Words with the opposite meaning of Federal:

communal, local, municipal, regional, civilian

Word Forms of Federal

Derived words: federally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Federal

Latin foeder-, foedus compact, league; akin to Latin fidere to trust bide

First known use: 1624

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Federal

Words & Phrases Containing Federal

federal case, federal court, federal district, federal district court, federal funds, Federal Reserve bank, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Reserve System

Frequently Asked Questions about Federal

What does "Federal" mean?

"Federal" means of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Federal"?

Other words for "Federal" include national, nationwide, civic, government, governmental, domestic, internal and intestine. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Federal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Federal"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Federal". Common alternatives include national, nationwide, civic, government, governmental, domestic, internal, intestine, democratic and republican.

What is a slang word for "Federal"?

Slang words for "Federal" include narc, shamus and jarhead.

What is the opposite of "Federal"?

Antonyms of "Federal" include communal, local, municipal, regional and civilian.

How do you use "Federal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Federal" in a sentence: "A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments."; "The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States.".

Is "Federal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Federal" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Federal" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Federal" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.