federalist

[fed-er-uh-list]

noun

an advocate of federalism.
(initial capital letter) U.S. History. a member or supporter of the Federalist party.

adjective

Also fed·er·al·is·tic. of federalism or the Federalists.

Origin of federalist

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; federal + -ist

Related formshy·per·fed·er·al·ist, noun

Federalist, The

noun

a series of 85 essays (1787–88) by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, written in support of the Constitution.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for federalists

Contemporary Examples of federalists

“We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists” said Thomas Jefferson in his first inaugural.
Didn't Obama Hear Oregon’s Warning Shot on Immigration?
Doug McIntyre
November 14, 2014
Again, federalists caused the problem by preventing a plane carrying polling material from taking off.
Polls Close in First Libyan Election in More Than 40 Years
Jamie Dettmer
July 7, 2012
At the very least, the (contemporary) federalists would be confused.
Can You Be a Zionist If No One Thinks You Are?
Jay Michaelson
March 19, 2012
Popular fear of the power of a regular army was then widespread, but after the electoral defeat of the Federalists, it faded.
The Militarization of America
William R. Polk
December 5, 2009
In the early years of the republic, the power of the Supreme Court fueled disputes between Federalists and Republicans.
Is the Supreme Court Unconstitutional?
Jonathan Blitzer
July 14, 2009

Historical Examples of federalists

The Federalists wished to make the central government as strong as possible.
The Nation in a Nutshell
George Makepeace Towle
In the preceding Congress there had been thirty Federalists and eleven Republicans.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson
It was well known that many Federalists would support his candidacy.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson
The Federalists watched this Republican revival with grave misgivings.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson
The emotions of the militant Federalists were too various to admit of description.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for federalists

Federalist

noun

a supporter or member of the Federalist party

adjective Also: Federal'istic

characteristic of the Federalists

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for federalists

federalist

"member or supporter of the Federal party in U.S. politics," originally of supporters of the Philadelphia constitution, 1787, American English, from federal + -ist. General sense of "one who supports federal union" is from 1792.