federal

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fed·er·al / ˈfed(ə)rəl/ • adj. having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs: Russia's federal and local governments. ∎  of, relating to, or denoting the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting a federation: the federal agency that provides legal services to the poor. ∎  of, relating to, or denoting the central government of the U.S. ∎  (Federal) hist. of the Northern States in the Civil War.DERIVATIVES: fed·er·al·i·za·tion n.fed·er·al·ize v.fed·er·al·ly adv.

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