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Federal

Federal

16 9.5
A soldier who fought for the Union in the American Civil War
  • noun
  • /ˈfɛdərəl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : soldado de la Unión
  • Many Federals fought tirelessly to preserve the Union throughout the conflict.

Examples

  • The federals brought 40,000 men up the river in ninety boats to try to take Shreveport.

    Academic text (2004)
  • We pursued and discovered more Federals approaching the town from the southeast, their cavalry leading.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • They drew tens of thousands of Federals away from their duties.

  • Dust puffed from the back of another Federal's jacket as one of the flankers scored a hit.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The Federal was celebrated for his bravery during the battles of the Civil War.

  • The strategy of the Federals was crucial in defeating the Confederate forces.

Synonyms

Union soldier
vsFederal
  • Archaic
6 4.1

A soldier who fought for the Union in the American Civil War

has identical meaning but is used as a single historical label
Federal soldier
vsFederal
  • Archaic
1 5.8

A soldier who fought for the North in the American Civil War

has identical meaning but appears as a shorter single-word historical label

Compounds

A national government that shares power with state governments but keeps strong central power

161 4.1

The central bank of the United States that controls interest rates and helps keep the country's money and banks safe

121 3.1

A court the national government uses to decide cases about laws for the whole country

104 3.5

A person who works for the country's government to enforce laws and investigate crimes

A government organization that does specific jobs for the national government, like the Environmental Protection Agency

32 3.7

A government worker who makes sure people follow national laws, often in the United States

Seven people who set interest rates and other money rules in the United States

The amount the federal government spends more than it gets in one year

A United States government agency that regulates radio, television, and internet companies

A US regional bank in the central bank system that holds money for local banks

12 5.2

A legal matter handled by the national government rather than state or local courts

An area set aside for the national government that is not part of any state

A US agency that keeps business competition fair and protects consumers

A United States government agency that makes and enforces safety rules for airlines and airports

The central bank of the United States that controls money and checks banks

A US government agency that coordinates help during disasters like hurricanes or floods

6 3.6

A government department or agency that works for the national government in the United States

A United States government agency that investigates serious crimes and enforces federal law

5 5.4

A group of courts and judges in the United States that decide cases about federal laws

A United States government group that promises to pay back people's bank deposits if a bank fails

A U.S. government agency that runs prisons and holds people found guilty of federal crimes

A part of the national government that handles a specific public task, like law or health

Paper money the United States Federal Reserve issues for buying things

The official name from 1992 to 2003 for the union of Serbia and Montenegro

The main agency in Russia that handles security inside the country and spying

Federal soldier
  • Archaic
1 5.8

A soldier who fought for the North in the American Civil War

A US company backed by the government that buys home loans to help banks lend more

A U.S. government agency that insures home loans to help people buy houses

federal tax lien
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A right the federal government takes on your property when you do not pay taxes you owe

A network of U.S. government-backed banks that lend money to local lenders like savings banks and credit unions

A country made of islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa

A United States government school that trains officers from federal law enforcement agencies

A US company created by the government that buys and guarantees home loans to help the mortgage market

The official name of Ethiopia, a country in northeast Africa

Federal Party
  • Formal
7.0

A major United States political group in the late 1700s and early 1800s that wanted a strong national government

A United States government agency that protects federal buildings and the people in them

A country in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea

A country in central Europe formed after World War II that became one country again in 1990

federal savings bank
  • Specialized
3.9

A bank that holds people's savings and follows federal rules

The main Russian agency that deals with security and spying inside the country

Surface Forms

Federal singular
Federals plural

Etymology

Federal comes from the Latin word foedus meaning 'league' or 'treaty', and the same root appears in federation. In the American Civil War a Federal was a soldier for the 'Union' government, so the name shows he belonged to the federal, or national, side.