fed·er·al 
(fĕdər-əl, fĕdrəl)
(fĕdər-əl, fĕdrəl)adj.
1. Of, relating to, or being a form of government in which a union of states recognizes the sovereignty of a central authority while retaining certain residual powers of government.
2. Of or constituting a form of government in which sovereign power is divided between a central authority and a number of constituent political units.
3. Of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinct from the governments of its member units.
4. Favorable to or advocating federation: The senator's federal leanings were well known.
5. Relating to or formed by a treaty or compact between constituent political units.
6. Federal
a. Of, relating to, or supporting Federalism or the Federalist Party.
b. Of, relating to, or loyal to the Union cause during the American Civil War.
7. often Federal Of, relating to, or being the central government of the United States.
8. Federal Relating to or characteristic of a style of architecture, furniture, and decoration produced in the United States especially in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and characterized by adaptations of classical forms combined with typically American motifs.
n.
1. Federal
a. A supporter of the Union during the American Civil War, especially a Union soldier.
b. A Federalist.
2. often Federal A federal agent or official.
[From Latin foedus, foeder-, league, treaty; see bheidh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
feder·al·ly adv.
Federal1819 Custom House,
Salem Maritime National
Historic Site
Salem, Massachusetts