Federal
690
6.5
- adjective
- /ˈfɛdərəl/
- Archaic
:
unionista
- He studied the Federal forces' strategies to understand how they secured victory in key battles.
Examples
-
The historian detailed the impact of Federal policies on the northern states during the Civil War.
-
During the Civil War, many soldiers fought valiantly, believing in the values of the Federal government.
-
It's a Federal Reserve bank, where banks take their money.
-
Take my car to the police station and wait for the Federal Marshal.
-
This is Federal Agent Hamilton!
-
In three days, the public will be screaming for federal assistance!
-
Most states and local authorities comply because they can rarely afford to lose federal funding.
Academic text (2011) -
Whatever color they were, the Federal skirmishers had the discipline to hold their fire.
Fiction book (1992) -
The Federal Gold Depository in downtown Manhattan.
-
We all know the supporters of the treaty received special dispensations from the federal government.
Fiction book (1994)
Synonyms
Related to the northern states loyal to the national government during the Civil War
Compounds
802
3.2
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
58
3.4
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
26
5.1
Seven people who set interest rates and other money rules in the United States
15
3.5
A United States government agency that regulates radio, television, and internet companies
12
3.5
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
12
3.9
A US agency that keeps business competition fair and protects consumers
9
3.9
A United States government agency that makes and enforces safety rules for airlines and airports
9
4.4
The central bank of the United States that controls money and checks banks
8
3.4
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
5
3.7
A United States government agency that investigates serious crimes and enforces federal law
- Formal
5
5.4
A group of courts and judges in the United States that decide cases about federal laws
3
4.1
A United States government group that promises to pay back people's bank deposits if a bank fails
- Formal
3
4.0
A U.S. government agency that runs prisons and holds people found guilty of federal crimes
3
3.7
A part of the national government that handles a specific public task, like law or health
2
5.1
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
1
6.3
The main agency in Russia that handles security inside the country and spying
1
6.0
A US company backed by the government that buys home loans to help banks lend more
1
3.5
A U.S. government agency that insures home loans to help people buy houses
- 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
- Formal
A major United States political group in the late 1700s and early 1800s that wanted a strong national government
- Formal
A United States government agency that protects federal buildings and the people in them
- Formal
A country in central Europe formed after World War II that became one country again in 1990
The main Russian agency that deals with security and spying inside the country
Surface Forms
Morphology
Federal = feder + al
Although '-al' is a productive adjectival suffix meaning 'related to', the stem form 'feder-' is a Latin combining form and not a standalone English base, so the meaning is not transparently derivable by average learners from familiar English words.
Etymology
Federal comes from the Latin root foedus meaning 'league' or 'treaty', the same root you see in federation. So, to call something 'federal' is to say it belongs to the national government, which is why the word was used for the Union side in the Civil War.