federalize

verb

fed·​er·​al·​ize ˈfe-d(ə-)rə-ˌlīz How to pronounce federalize (audio)
federalized; federalizing

transitive verb

1
: to unite in or under a federal system
2
: to bring under the jurisdiction of a federal government

Examples of federalize in a Sentence

The measure federalizes several state programs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The National Guard was last federalized in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots following the police beating of Rodney King. Tom Bowman, NPR, 15 May 2025 There's no indication that Trump would act to federalize the National Guard, a move that would effectively take control of the Guard troops from governors. Tom Bowman, NPR, 15 May 2025 Those concerns among others persuaded Democrats to introduce legislation at the beginning of President Biden’s term which would have federalized many aspects of elections. Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 By federalizing state war debts and creating a national bank, Hamilton aimed to unify the young nation under a strong fiscal umbrella. Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for federalize

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of federalize was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Federalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/federalize. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

federalize

verb
fed·​er·​al·​ize ˈfed-(ə-)rə-ˌlīz How to pronounce federalize (audio)
federalized; federalizing
: to unite in or under a federal system of authority
federalization
ˌfed-(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!