feds
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The federal level of government, viewed as a collective group of people. Typically its law enforcement agencies and officers.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
Australian English
Examples
Which leaves the states in an awful hole. The Feds have ripped $80 billion out of their budgets over the next 10 years.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Law enforcement; cops.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “feds” mean?
The federal level of government, viewed as a collective group of people. Typically its law enforcement agencies and officers.
Is “feds” formal or informal?
feds is generally slang.