Federal Meaning and Definition
Federal
Pronunciation
/ˈfed.rəl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A political entity that is composed of multiple states, provinces, or territories that together form a single, unified government.
Examples
- The United States of America is a federal republic.
- Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy.
Synonyms
- Government
- Authority
Antonyms
- Local
- State
Etymology
The term “federal” comes from the Latin word “foedus,” meaning “covenant” or ” alliance,” and has been used to describe a system of government since the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Federal can be used to describe a system of government where power is divided between the central authority and smaller constituent units, such as states or provinces.
Cultural References
Federal has been used in popular culture to describe governments, such as in the TV show “House of Cards” and in the movie “Lincoln.”
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- Federal agency
- Federal law
Related Words or Phrases
- Centralized
- Decentralized
- State
Collocations
- Federal government
- Federal system
- Federal authority
Frequency of Use
Federal is a commonly used term in political and administrative contexts, particularly in the United States and Canada.
Common Misspellings
- Federae
- Federel