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.-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.-consisting or pertaining to such a government; as, the federal constitution; a federal officer.-friendly or devoted to such a government; as, the federal party. see federalist.-see federalist.