federalist
federalist Lexical Profile
federalist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who advocates or supports a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority while retaining partial self-government.
"As a committed federalist, she argued that regional provinces should share constitutional authority with the national parliament."
American A supporter of the ratification of the US Constitution or a member of the early American political party that favored a strong centralized national government (usually capitalized).
"Alexander Hamilton and John Adams were prominent Federalists who shaped the early financial and legal institutions of the United States."
• adjective
Relating to, advocating, or characteristic of federalism or a federation of states.
"The constitutional convention debated the merits of a federalist system of governance."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary American political discourse, 'federalist' often refers paradoxically to an advocate of states' rights and limited national power, whereas in early US history (and most other countries), a Federalist advocated for a strong central government.
• Rhymes for federalist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 18th century during the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, from 'federal' (derived from Latin 'foedus', meaning 'league' or 'covenant') and the suffix '-ist'.