Word: Federal

Pronunciation

/ˈfedərəl/

Definitions

• Adjective: Relating to or denoting a form of government in which powers are divided between a central authority and constituent political units. For example: “The federal government has the power to regulate commerce among the states.”

  • Example Sentence: “Canada has a federal system where power is shared between the national government and provincial governments.”

• Noun: A federalist; a supporter of federalism, or a federal system of government. For example: “During the formation of the United States, many influential figures were strong proponents of federalism.”

• Adjective (in compounds): Denoting something that belongs or relates to a federation or union, especially the United States of America. For example: “Federal law takes precedence over state laws.”

Phrases

• “Federal government”: The national government of a federation, as distinct from the governments of its member states.
• “Federal court”: A court established by the U.S. Constitution or Congress with jurisdiction over issues specified by federal law.
• “Federal reserve”: The central banking system of the United States.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “The federal budget allocates funds for various projects across the country.”
• Noun: “He was a staunch federal who believed in a strong centralized government.”

Synonyms

• National (in the context of government)
• Central (when referring to government bodies)
• Unionized (in the context of a federation)

Antonyms:

• State (referring to state-level government as opposed to national/federal)
• Local (for local government as opposed to federal)

Note: The usage of “federal” can vary based on context, but it predominantly functions as an adjective describing systems, policies, or entities associated with a federal form of governance.