adj.
- having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.
- relating to or denoting the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting a federation.
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(Federal)
US historical of the Northern States in the Civil War.
Derivative
- federalism n.
- federalist n. & adj.
- federalization
or federalisation n. - federalize
or federalise v. - federally adv.
Etymology
C17: from L. foedus, foeder- ‘league, covenant’ + -al.