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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

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Etymology

Origin of federalist

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

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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

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

These aren’t abstract legal theories; they are fundamental precepts of our federalist system.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 13, 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

In America's federalist system, however, there is another institutional check on his power and that's the states.

From Salon ● Nov. 13, 2024

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

In Federalist No. 51, James Madison argued that maintaining the balance established by the separation of powers depended on the ambitions of public officials coming into conflict.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 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

The political consensus that had held together during Washington’s first term, and had then begun to fragment into Federalist and Republican camps over the Whiskey Rebellion and Jay’s Treaty, broke down completely in 1797.

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

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