federal

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Relating to the central national government, as opposed to state or local government.

   The new rule is set by federal law, not by individual states.

2. 2
   adj

   Describing a system of government in which power is shared between a central authority and several regional ones.

   The United States has a federal system that divides power between Washington and the states.

3. 3
   adj

   National; affecting the whole country.

   They are waiting on a federal decision about funding.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Federal, recorded from the early 17th century, derives ultimately from Latin foedus, “treaty” or “agreement,” a word related to Latin fidere, “trust.” The term was first applied to the government of the United States at the Continental Congress in 1783.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰós Proto-Italic *feiðos Latin foedusder. French fédéralder. English federal From French fédéral, from Latin stem foeder- of foedus (“covenant, league, treaty, alliance”).

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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