federal
∞
3.8
- adjective
- /ˈfɛdərəl/
- The bill would provide emergency paid leave for civilian federal employees and postal workers.
- federal government
- federal court
- federal law
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Watch on YouTubeHe said, Danny, the federal prison system is a business.
- He said, Danny, the federal prison system is a business.
- Much more difficult in countries that don't have that federal basis.
- First of all, it's not a federal cookie cutter program.
- I'm like Warren, you mean that federal employees take bribes?
- This is not the stuff of federal law enforcement.
- We're going to have the the federal debt doubling with each president.
- The so-called buyouts and other attacks on federal employees won't help.
- And I think there's a huge skepticism against large federal institutions.
- So we should have a sort of a squad within the federal government that focuses on well-being.
Examples
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Overall, the budget would provide $147.9 billion for federal R&D, an increase of 0.5% over 2010 spending.
Academic text (2011) -
In the first type, the federal government puts money directly into the hands of consumers.
Academic text (2011) -
Well, maybe at a higher level, federal and state standards for schools.
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So could you cut the federal budget in half?
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The federal law allows me.
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There is an emergency order issued by the authorities, by the federal government and the president of the United States.
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Though it's legal in most states, federal restrictions remain in place.
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This is a federal tax stamp.
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The national defense budget accounts for 56 percent of all U.S. federal discretionary spending.
Academic text (2011) -
The federal government implemented new regulations to improve public health.
Synonyms
851
2.7
Owned or run by the country's central government
1
7.2
Relating to a system where regions share power with a central government
Antonyms
Compounds
691
3.2
A national government that shares power with state governments but keeps strong central power
213
4.1
The central bank of the United States that controls interest rates and helps keep the country's money and banks safe
183
3.1
A court the national government uses to decide cases about laws for the whole country
115
3.5
A person who works for the country's government to enforce laws and investigate crimes
103
3.4
A government organization that does specific jobs for the national government, like the Environmental Protection Agency
59
3.7
A government worker who makes sure people follow national laws, often in the United States
25
5.2
A legal matter handled by the national government rather than state or local courts
20
3.5
A US regional bank in the central bank system that holds money for local banks
20
3.7
A United States government agency that investigates serious crimes and enforces federal law
18
3.9
A US agency that keeps business competition fair and protects consumers
18
3.6
A government department or agency that works for the national government in the United States
17
3.7
A part of the national government that handles a specific public task, like law or health
16
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
15
3.9
A United States government agency that makes and enforces safety rules for airlines and airports
14
3.4
A US government agency that coordinates help during disasters like hurricanes or floods
10
4.4
The central bank of the United States that controls money and checks banks
- Formal
6
5.4
A group of courts and judges in the United States that decide cases about federal laws
5
4.1
A United States government group that promises to pay back people's bank deposits if a bank fails
3
3.5
A U.S. government agency that insures home loans to help people buy houses
- Formal
3
4.0
A U.S. government agency that runs prisons and holds people found guilty of federal crimes
3
5.1
Paper money the United States Federal Reserve issues for buying things
2
6.3
The main agency in Russia that handles security inside the country and spying
The official name from 1992 to 2003 for the union of Serbia and Montenegro
- Formal
1
3.3
A country in central Europe formed after World War II that became one country again in 1990
1
6.3
A US company created by the government that buys and guarantees home loans to help the mortgage market
- Specialized
1
8.1
A right the federal government takes on your property when you do not pay taxes you owe
1
6.0
A US company backed by the government that buys home loans to help banks lend more
- Formal
1
4.6
A United States government agency that protects federal buildings and the people in them
1
6.7
The main Russian agency that deals with security and spying inside the country
- Formal
1
7.0
A major United States political group in the late 1700s and early 1800s that wanted a strong national government
1
4.8
A United States government school that trains officers from federal law enforcement agencies
1
8.2
A country made of islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa
The official name of Ethiopia, a country in northeast Africa
1
6.1
A network of U.S. government-backed banks that lend money to local lenders like savings banks and credit unions
How Central
Surface Forms
Morphology
federal = feder + al
Although the word contains the productive adjective suffix -al, the base is a bound classical root that is not a standalone English word, so the meaning is not directly recoverable for most learners.
Etymology
Federal comes from the Latin root foedus, which means 'treaty' or 'agreement'. Think of a federation as states making a promise to work together, so federal describes the central government or system created by that agreement.