1. National; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units
   "the Federal Bureau of Investigation"; "federal property"; "federal courts"; "the federal highway program"
    
2. (government) characterized by or constituting a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities
   "a federal system like that of the United States"; "federal governments often evolved out of confederations"
    
3. Of or relating to the central government of a federation
   "a federal district is one set aside as the seat of the national government"

1. A member of the Union Army during the American Civil War
   - Federal soldier, Union soldier
    
2. Any federal law-enforcement officer
   "The federal official conducted an investigation into tax fraud";
   - Fed [US, informal], federal official

1. Being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the American Civil War
   "Federal forces"; "a Federal infantryman";
   - Union

Derived forms: Federals

See also: national, northern

Type of: agent, federal agent, Northerner, Yank [informal], Yankee [informal]

Antonym: unitary

Encyclopedia: Federal, Pleasants County, West Virginia