federal

adjective

1. 1

   Pertaining to a league or treaty; derived from an agreement or covenant between parties, especially between nations.

   Yet the Romans, taking them [the Carthaginians] at an Advantage, vvhen they vvere in Streights; compell'd them, contrary to all Fœderal Right and Juſtice, by Nevv Articles, both to part with Sardinia, their Lavvful Territory, and alſo to pay them for the future, a Double Tribute.

2. 2

   Pertaining to the national government level in a federal nation, as opposed to state, provincial, county, city, or town.

   That this Assembly doth explicitly and peremptorily declare, that it views the powers of the federal government as resulting from the compact to which the states are parties, as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instrument constituting that compact, as no further valid than they are authorized by the grants enumerated in that compact; [...]

3. 3

   Relating to covenantalism.

   federal theology

noun

1. 1

   A federal agent or (chiefly law-enforcement) official.

2. 2

   A federal agent or (chiefly law-enforcement) official. A law-enforcement official of the FBI.

3. 3

   historicalA Union soldier in the American Civil War.

4. 4

   A supporter of federation.

Forms

plural

federals