adjective
- pertaining to or of the nature of a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states, as in federal government; federal system.
- of, relating to, or noting such a central government: federal offices.
- (initial capital letter) U.S. History.
- of or relating to the Federalists or to the Federalist party.
- supporting the principles of the Federalist party.
- (in the Civil War) pertaining to or supporting the Union government.
- relating to or adhering to the support of the Constitution.
- (initial capital letter) pertaining to or designating the styles of the decorative arts and architecture current in the U.S. from c1780 to c1830.
- of or relating to a compact or a league, especially a league between nations or states.
noun
- an advocate of federation or federalism.
- (initial capital letter) U.S. History.
- a Federalist.
- an adherent of the Union government during the Civil War; Unionist.
- a soldier in the Federal army.
adjective
- of or relating to a form of government or a country in which power is divided between one central and several regional governments
- of or relating to a treaty between provinces, states, etc, that establishes a political unit in which power is so divided
- of or relating to the central government of a federation
- of or relating to any union or association of parties or groups that retain some autonomy
- (of a university) comprised of relatively independent colleges
noun
- a supporter of federal union or federation
adjective
-
- of or relating to the Federalist party or Federalism
- characteristic of or supporting the Union government during the American Civil War
noun
-
- a supporter of the Union government during the American Civil War
- a Federalist
1640s, as a theological term, from French fédéral, from Latin foedus (genitive foederis) “covenant, league, treaty, alliance,” related to fides “faith” (see faith).
Meaning “pertaining to a treaty” (1650s) led to political sense of “state formed by agreement among independent states” (1707), from phrases like federal union “union based on a treaty,” popularized by formation of U.S.A. 1776-1787.