Meaning & use
federal
Relating to a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states.
See it in a sentence
The federal government sets national policy, while states handle many local matters.
She was arrested for a federal crime, so the case went to a U.S. district court.
A note on using this word
Federal specifically describes the national level of government in countries like the United States or Canada, where power is shared with states or provinces.
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