as in national
of or relating to a federation or to its central government
A federal system of government distributes power between a country's central and regional governments. The President, Congress, and the Supreme Court are all part of the federal government of the United States.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
2
as in Confederate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of federal
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, Carrillo, Camacho, Diaz, Rosales and Perez each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life behind bars, along with fines of up to $10 million, according to federal prosecutors.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Royalty payments are made proportionately to musicians and songwriters from a pool of funds, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government picks up 90% of the program and the state the remainder.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Adjective
The Hollywood Reporter reached out for comment to Heritage Canada, the federal government department that regulates the domestic media sector, but has yet to hear back.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, Carrillo, Camacho, Diaz, Rosales and Perez each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life behind bars, along with fines of up to $10 million, according to federal prosecutors.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Royalty payments are made proportionately to musicians and songwriters from a pool of funds, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government picks up 90% of the program and the state the remainder.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for federal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for federal
Adjective
-
Saturday’s schedule has mass appeal between the national fixations (Duke, Michigan, Houston) and the agents of chaos (High Point, Texas, VCU).—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Nexstar-Tegna merger will accelerate exactly that trend, concentrating broadcast power in fewer corporate hands, shrinking independent editorial voices and prioritizing national business interests over local needs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That 3% growth is no longer keeping up with reality, according to Fulton and others who reviewed the inter-governmental agreements, or IGAs.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Croke secured Pritzker’s endorsement last month, having worked for him in his campaign and governmental capacities.—
Jonathan Bullington,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
-
Exactly what will happen to DC’s most polarizing building after the G-men move out is still not clear, although President Trump has suggested the FBI will eventually return.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
The team's 33-15 loss gave it a 2-11 record, which is the worst nark in the NFC.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
-
You’re automatically dubbed a narc, a kiss-ass, a too-cool.—
Brandi California,
SPIN,
1 July 2024
Noun
-
The college goes far beyond helping with enrollment and GI Bill paperwork, taking a holistic approach to student veteran support by addressing academic, financial, health and social needs for veterans as well as their family members and dependents.—
Larry D. Urish,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
-
This allows gas to pass through the GI tract without getting trapped and causing bloating.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the tense Lebanese capital, Beirut, Israeli surveillance drones buzz overhead while red tracer bullets light up the night skies, fired to warn residents of possible attacks.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The talc was Katharine’s visual tracer.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Less than a month later, plainclothesmen arrested Nassar at a local tire store, and Munford took him into custody.—
Jason Schmidt,
Glamour,
30 Oct. 2018
-
Hustling bucks and ducking the Third Division boys, those earnest young plainclothesmen assigned to the vice squad who work out of the 17th Precinct on the East Side.—
Gail Sheehy,
Daily Intelligencer,
9 Sep. 2017
Noun
-
Many birds, for example, produce feathers with elaborate color patterns – from the iridescent plumage of many hummingbirds to the famously brilliant tail of a peacock.—
Logan S. James,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service posted a dramatic video on X, captured by one of its employees, showing a fireball with a long tail hurtling across a cloudless sky.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Federal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/federal. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
