/ ˈfedərəl; NAmE / adjective
1.
having a system of government in which the individual states of a country have control over their own affairs, but are controlled by a central government for national decisions, etc. :
a federal republic
2.
(within a federal system, for example the US and Canada) connected with national government rather than the local government of an individual state :
a federal law
state and federal income taxes
► fed·er·al·ly adverb :
federally funded health care
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin foedus , foeder- league, covenant + -al .