- 1 having a system of government in which the individual states of a country have control over their own affairs, but are controlled by a central government for national decisions, etc. a federal republic
- 2 (within a federal system, for example the US and Canada) connected with national government rather than the local government of an individual state a federal law state and federal income taxes Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin foedus, foeder- ‘league, covenant’ + -al. Wordfindergovernmentcabinet, checks and balances, constitution, federal, government, minister, the Opposition, parliament, politics, systemExtra examples New federal regulations have been introduced. On 15th February a federal judge ruled in their favour. There is a plan to introduce random drug testing of federal workers. We will continue federal funding for the arts.
Check pronunciation: federal
