FEDERAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Federal mean? 

• FEDERAL (noun)
  The noun FEDERAL has 2 senses:

1. a member of the Union Army during the American Civil War

2. any federal law-enforcement officer

  Familiarity information: FEDERAL used as a noun is rare.

• FEDERAL (adjective)
  The adjective FEDERAL has 4 senses:

1. national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units

2. of or relating to the central government of a federation

3. being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the American Civil War

4. characterized by or constituting a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities

  Familiarity information: FEDERAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FEDERAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A member of the Union Army during the American Civil War

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Federal; Federal soldier; Union soldier

Hypernyms ("Federal" is a kind of...):

Northerner; Yank; Yankee (an American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War))

Derivation:

Federal (being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the American Civil War)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any federal law-enforcement officer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Fed; Federal; federal official

Hypernyms ("Federal" is a kind of...):

agent; federal agent (any agent or representative of a federal agency or bureau)

• FEDERAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

National; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units

Context example:

federal property

Similar:

national (concerned with or applicable to or belonging to an entire nation or country)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to the central government of a federation

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

a federal district is one set aside as the seat of the national government

Pertainym:

federal government (a government with strong central powers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the American Civil War

Synonyms:

Federal; Union

Context example:

a Federal infantryman

Similar:

northern (in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line)

Derivation:

Federal (a member of the Union Army during the American Civil War)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Characterized by or constituting a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities

Context example:

federal governments often evolved out of confederations

Domain category:

administration; governance; governing; government; government activity (the act of governing; exercising authority)

Antonym:

unitary (characterized by or constituting a form of government in which power is held by one central authority)

 Context examples 

It is a federal entity separate from the 31 Mexican states.

(Distrito Federal of Mexico, NCI Thesaurus)

An agency in the U.S. federal government whose mission is to protect public health by making sure that food, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements are safe to use and truthfully labeled.

(FDA, NCI Dictionary)

There are several federal agencies that are a part of the DHHS.

(DHHS, NCI Dictionary)

A device that is intended for one use, or on a single patient during a single procedure (Title 21 Chapter 9 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act).

(Device Labeled for Single Use, NCI Thesaurus)

An agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services responsible for administration of several key federal health care programs.

(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NCI Thesaurus)

The U.S. federal government agency responsible for protecting the public’s health and providing important services, especially for people in need.

(Department of Health and Human Services, NCI Dictionary)

Standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to address Federal requirements for the interoperability of different systems, for the portability of data and software, and for computer security.

(Federal Information Processing Standards, NCI Thesaurus)

Federal, state, or local programs that provide supplemental food assistance, e.g., Farmer's Market Coupon Program, Commodity Foods Program, Health Start; Women, Infant, & Children (WIC) Program.

(Food Assistance Programs, NCI Thesaurus)

The PHS is comprised of all agency divisions of HHS and the Commissioned Corps, uniformed health professionals who serve at HHS and other federal agencies.

(Office of Assistant Secretary of Health, NCI Thesaurus)

Some are guaranteed by federal law, such as the right to get a copy of your medical records, and the right to keep them private.

(Patient Rights, NIH)