federal

Everyday

1. A federal country is made of several states or provinces that run some things themselves but share one national government; the USA, Canada, Australia and Germany are federal. tree →
2. Federal means belonging to that national government, as in federal laws, federal taxes or the federal police (the FBI in the USA). tree →
3. (US, informal) «Make a federal case out of it» means make a big fuss about something small. tree →

In the lessons

In social studies it explains how countries are organised: in the USA the federal government is in Washington, while each state has its own government too. In news it shows something is national, not local. Phrases: «federal government», «federal law», «federal holiday», «federal election».

Examples

• The USA has a federal government and fifty state governments. tree →
• Australia holds a federal election every few years. tree →
• Canada is a federal country with ten provinces. tree →
• Stealing mail is a federal crime in the USA. tree →
• A federal holiday means government offices are closed. tree →
• The federal capital of Australia is Canberra. tree →
• The FBI is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. tree →
• (US, informal) It was just a spilled drink, don't make a federal case out of it. tree →

Note

Adjective only; no plural. Say «FED-er-ul». The UK is not a federal country in the usual sense. A federation is the whole group of states joined together.