federal 1 of 2

Definition of federalnext
as in national
of or relating to a federation or to its central government A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments. The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Federal

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of federal
Adjective
Experts say the overall patchwork of federal and state funding for call centers remains insufficient to meet the true level of need. Devi Shastri, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026 The lawsuit asks a federal judge to strike down the regulations. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the operation to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket, the federal prosecutor’s office in New York said. Gary D. Robertson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 Passed as part of the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, the federal government is now instituting strict price controls on prescription drugs accessed through Medicare. Elaine Parker, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
  • The curators Christine Riding and Lucy Bamford have brought together ten canvases that were originally shown in London between 1765 and 1773—the pieces thanks to which, during his mid-thirties, the North Midlands artist first secured a national reputation.
    Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Just getting to this point, with passage out of the House, has been contentious, says Andrew Schmidt, director of governmental affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile in Waukegan, the permanent $500 million American Place Casino, delayed by a lawsuit, the governmental approval process and financing issues, is expected to break ground this year, according to casino owner Full House Resorts.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2025
  • Exactly what will happen to DC’s most polarizing building after the G-men move out is still not clear, although President Trump has suggested the FBI will eventually return.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • The team's 33-15 loss gave it a 2-11 record, which is the worst nark in the NFC.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
  • You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.
    Brandi California, SPIN, 1 July 2024
Noun
  • This motivated passage of the GI Bill to keep many vets out of the labor market by sending them to school.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The Glycemic Index Trap A common misconception is that lower glycemic index (GI) equals healthier.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Manganese, a battery process tracer, can have neurological effects at chronic doses, the report stated.
    Arcelia Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Aware has been using tracer particles and its blockchain technology for several years now, applying it to recycled cotton, denim and other materials.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Less than a month later, plainclothesmen arrested Nassar at a local tire store, and Munford took him into custody.
    Jason Schmidt, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2018
  • Hustling bucks and ducking the Third Division boys, those earnest young plainclothesmen assigned to the vice squad who work out of the 17th Precinct on the East Side.
    Gail Sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, 9 Sep. 2017
Noun
  • The president and king wore tails and white waistcoats.
    Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The table revealed that an ovoid body—blunt nose, tapering tail—came closer to aerodynamic perfection than anything else a designer could draw.
    Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

fed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on federal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster