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• federalist
  federalist

  noun

  an advocate of federalism.
• Federalist
  Federalist

  noun

  a supporter or member of the Federalist party

federalist

American  

[fed-er-uh-list] / ˈfɛd ər ə lɪst /

noun

1. an advocate of federalism.

2. (initial capital letter) a member or supporter of the Federalist party.

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adjective

1. Also federalistic of federalism or the Federalists.

Federalist British  

/ ˈfɛdərəlɪst /

noun

1. a supporter or member of the Federalist party

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adjective

1. characteristic of the Federalists

Other Word Forms

• hyperfederalist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of federalist

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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

federalist Federalist

Perhaps most important, he respected the authority of the states in our federalist system.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 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

And finally, the Constitution’s respect for states as separate sovereigns is a foundational principle in our federalist government, and this deeply rooted commitment supports a broad understanding of the ordinary bounds of judicial review.

From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2024

The federalist fervor, which the exiles had pictured as a powder keg about to explode, had dissolved into a vague electoral illusion.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

CNN conservative commentator Brianna Lyman, a writer for The Federalist, openly questioned what appeared to be clearly coordinated messaging.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 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

Thirteen of the 85 Federalist Papers wrangle with how best to handle this threat, she notes in her history of American civil-military relations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 2026

Initially, Jefferson simply refused to assign Washington any culpability for the Federalist conspiracy, somehow suggesting that the person at the very center of the government was wholly oblivious to the schemes swirling around him.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis