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federal

Definition

  • noun: a supporter of the government of the U.S. in the American Civil War
  • noun: a supporter of the United States government in the Civil War
  • adjective: of or relating to a form of government in which power is shared between a central government and individual states, provinces, etc.
  • adjective: of or relating to a compact or treaty
  • usually plural
  • synonyms: northern, national

Examples

  • I agree that he shouldn't have said that, but there's no reason to 'make a federal case out of' it. [='make a big deal about it']

  • Do you have to 'make a federal case out of' it every time I come home late?

  • Local police sought help from the 'federals'. [=(less formally) 'feds']

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) And we face runaway deficits of almost $ billion... ...for this budget year that ends September th. That deficit is larger than the entire federal budget in . ...we will pay in interest this year on the national debt. ...our federal government payroll was less than $ billion. (..)
    2006 The Pursuit of Happyness