What does "federal" mean?
A federal agent or (chiefly law-enforcement) official.
Federal
/ˈfɛdəɹəl/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A federal agent or (chiefly law-enforcement) official.
- Grammar: federal is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: fed, absolute, achaean, agent.
- Useful contrasts: gubernatorial election, local agency, local edict.
- Usage evidence: A huge federal budget deficit has been plaguing the American economy for many years.
How to use "federal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "federal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "federal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "federal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "federal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "federal" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "fed" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "federal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A federal agent or (chiefly law-enforcement) official.
- 2 A member of a Federal Party
- 3 any federal law-enforcement officer wordnet
- 4 A federal agent or (chiefly law-enforcement) official.; A law-enforcement official of the FBI. US
- 5 Alternative form of federal. US, alt-of, alternative
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a member of the Union Army during the American Civil War wordnet
- 7 A Union soldier in the American Civil War. US, historical
- 8 Someone on the Union side.
- 9 A supporter of federation.
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to a league or treaty; derived from an agreement or covenant between parties, especially between nations. not-comparable
"Yet the Romans, taking them [the Carthaginians] at an Advantage, vvhen they vvere in Streights; compell'd them, contrary to all Fœderal Right and Juſtice, by Nevv Articles, both to part with Sardinia, their Lavvful Territory, and alſo to pay them for the future, a Double Tribute."
- 2 Pertaining to the national government level in a federal nation, as opposed to state, provincial, county, city, or town. not-comparable
"That this Assembly doth explicitly and peremptorily declare, that it views the powers of the federal government as resulting from the compact to which the states are parties, as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instrument constituting that compact, as no further valid than they are authorized by the grants enumerated in that compact; [...]"
- 3 Relating to covenantalism. not-comparable
"federal theology"
Adjective
- 1 national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units wordnet
- 2 characterized by or constituting a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities wordnet
- 3 being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the American Civil War wordnet
- 4 of or relating to the central government of a federation wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A locality in the Byron council area, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia.
Antonyms
gubernatorial electionlocal agencylocal edictlocal government agency
Example
"A huge federal budget deficit has been plaguing the American economy for many years."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "federal"?
Common synonyms include: fed, absolute, achaean, agent, amanuensis, aristocratic.
How do you use "federal" in a sentence?
A huge federal budget deficit has been plaguing the American economy for many years.
How do you pronounce "federal"?
Pronounced /ˈfɛdəɹəl/.
Etymology
From French fédéral, from Latin stem foeder- of foedus (“covenant, league, treaty, alliance”).