federalist
noun
an advocate of federalism.
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federalist
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Federalist
Federalistnouna supporter or member of the Federalist party
federalist
American
[fed-er-uh-list]
/ ˈfɛd ər ə lɪst /
noun
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an advocate of federalism.
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(initial capital letter) a member or supporter of the Federalist party.
adjective
Federalist
British
/ ˈfɛdərəlɪst /
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of federalist
Explanation
A federalist is someone who believes in the type of political system in which states or territories share control with a central government. Alexander Hamilton, one of the founders of the United States, was a federalist. Canada and the U.S. both have federalist systems of government — individual states or provinces govern themselves, but they also unite with a federal government that has authority over the entire country. When it has a lower-case f, the word federalist describes someone who advocates this kind of system, while an upper-case F denotes a member of a specific political party.
Vocabulary lists containing federalist
U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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The Early Republic, Lessons 1–3
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U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Translated into constitutional terms, Minnesota argued that the surge violated federalist principles by invading the state’s reserved police powers: the broad authority to govern public health, safety, welfare, and order.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
The law strikes a federalist balance by letting states ban pesticides within their borders while prohibiting them from mandating warnings beyond those required by the EPA.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
She said she also voted for separation in the first referendum, in 1980, when the federalist camp won with 60 percent support.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025
I haven’t gotten my copy yet, but as I understand it, they outline a plan for a federalist, democratic republic with guaranteed rights for both Jews and Arabs, somewhat along the lines of pre-breakup Yugoslavia.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2025
Taken prisoner during the first federalist adventure, he managed to escape to Curaçao disguised in the garment he detested most in this world: a cassock.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One of the books on the table is “The Federalist Papers.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
“Statement of Purpose,” the Federalist Paper, October 1986.
From Slate ● May 13, 2026
In March, the Federalist Society held a day-long conference in Philadelphia to celebrate the “Jurisprudence of Justice Alito.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
Can we follow Alexander Hamilton’s guidance in Federalist No. 1, for “good government” through “reflection and choice,” rather than relying on “accident and force?”
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026
Adams had been targeted for criticism because he was the standard-bearer for the Federalist party.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
