federal

adjective
UK /ˈfed.ər.əl/
US /ˈfed.ɚ.əl/

Belonging to the main government of a whole country.

The federal government makes rules for the whole country.

SYNONYMS

nationalcentralgovernmentalstatewide

RELATED WORDS

governmentnationunionlawpolitics

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A system where a group of states share one central government.

The United States has a federal system.

3. Relating to the central government rather than local governments.

Federal laws apply everywhere in the country.

4. Supporting a union of states under one central power.

The federal side wanted a strong central government.