# federal

/ˈfɛdɝəɫ/ (US) · /fˈɛdəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/federal
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. national government

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

relating to the central government of a country, rather than the government of one state or city.

For teachers: pertaining to the national level of government in a federation, as distinct from state or local jurisdictions.

- The federal government is responsible for the country's defense and foreign policy.
- Federal authorities intervened when it became clear that the state's environmental regulations were in direct conflict with national statutes.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. system of shared power

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describing a system where several states join together but keep some of their own laws.

For teachers: relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.

- The country has a federal system where each state has its own governor.
- The debate centered on whether a federal structure could sufficiently protect the rights of ethnic minorities within the autonomous regions.

### 3. an official or agent

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

an agent or official who works for the central government, especially in law enforcement.

For teachers: a federal agent or law enforcement official belonging to a national bureau.

- In the movie, the bank robbers were chased by the federals.
- The suspect realized he was being watched not by local police, but by the federals, which meant the investigation was much larger than he thought.

Teaching tip: In casual speech, this is often shortened to 'feds'.

### 4. Civil War soldier

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Archaic

a soldier who fought for the North (the Union) during the American Civil War.

For teachers: a supporter of the Union or a soldier in the Union army during the American Civil War.

- The old diary was written by a federal who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Historical accounts from the 1860s often refer to the movement of the federals across the southern border states during the winter campaign.

## Examples

- The federal government manages the country's borders.
- While local police handle most crimes, federal agents investigate cases that cross state lines.
- The tension between federal mandates and state autonomy remains a defining characteristic of the nation's constitutional law and political discourse.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.