See Also: Federal(medicine)
federal(dictionary)
federal(dictionary)
A M FEDERAL(finance)
Federal(money)
Federal Tax Lien(money)
ARMSTRONG CO. FEDERAL EMP.(finance)
Federal funds(money)
WPA Federal Art Project(encyclopedia)
Federal style(encyclopedia)

federal (iou)



federal adjective & noun. Also (esp. in senses A.3, B.) Federal. M17.
[from Latin foedus, foeder- covenant: see -AL1. Cf. French federal.]
A. adjective.
Of or pertaining to a covenant or treaty. Now only spec. in Theology, pertaining to or based on the doctrine of God's Covenant with Adam as representing humankind and with Christ as representing the Church. M17.
Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a system of government in which several States form a central political unity but remain independent in internal affairs. Cf. UNITARY adjective 2. M17.
A. F. Douglas-Home Ways..which would give to the three territories a Federal structure.
b. Of or pertaining to the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting it. L18.
A. E. Stevenson Some of the federal aid might take the form of..grants to the states.
US History. (Usu. Federal.) Favouring a central or federal government; esp. of or pertaining to the Federalist party or the Northern States and their supporters or troops in the Civil War. L18.
Comprising an association of largely independent units. E20.
Times Literary Supplement The geography and diverse character of Wales made a federal university of scattered colleges a necessity.
Special collocations: federal district the district used as the seat of federal government. federal land-bank: see LAND-BANK 2. Federal Reserve Bank US each of twelve regional banks which regulate and serve the member banks of the Federal Reserve System. Federal Reserve Board US the board regulating the Federal Reserve System and consisting of governors appointed by the US President with Senate approval. Federal Reserve System the US national banking system of reserve cash available to banks. federal territory the territory used as the seat of federal government.
b. noun. US History. (Usu. Federal.) A supporter of the Union government or (esp.) a soldier in Union armies in the American Civil War. M19.
federally adverb (a) Theology on the basis of a covenant; (b) in the manner of a federation: M17.