rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryfederalShared government power
adjective / noun

federal

FED-er-uhl/ˈfedərəl/

Of a national government in a system sharing authority with states.

The United States Capitol houses part of the federal government.

The United States Capitol is shown as a clear isolated national-government building with a small flag and sparse ground; natural architectural ink, no political slogans.
Etymology
federLatincovenant, treaty, alliance
+alLatinpertaining to

The covenant root first linked federal to agreements, then to unions formed by agreement among states. Its national-government sense grew from the central authority of such a union.

In context

US National Archives32:06
an individual State should be allowed to nullify the federal government's laws we have a um compact among independent sovereign states
For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle

More examples

  • The federal system divides authority between national and state governments.
  • The city receives federal funding to repair its bridges.
  • The sheriff turns the investigation over to the federals.

Forms

federal · federals

federalism noun — Sharing power between national and state governments.

federally adverb — By or through the national government.

Similar words

national
Concerns the whole country without implying shared state authority.
central
Identifies the main government, whether or not states share power.