noun ·see federalist.
2. federal ·adj consisting or pertaining to such a government; as, the federal constitution; a federal officer.
3. federal ·adj friendly or devoted to such a government; as, the federal party. see federalist.
4. federal ·adj composed of states or districts which retain only a subordinate and limited sovereignty, as the union of the united states, or the sonderbund of switzerland.
5. federal ·adj pertaining to a league or treaty; derived from an agreement or covenant between parties, especially between nations; constituted by a compact between parties, usually governments or their representatives.