federalist Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a member of a former political party in the United States that favored a strong centralized federal government
  2. noun an advocate of federalism

WordNet

Fed"er*al*ist noun
Etymology
Cf. F. fédéraliste.
Definitions
  1. An advocate of confederation; specifically (Amer. Hist.), a friend of the Constitution of the United States at its formation and adoption; a member of the political party which favored the administration of president Washington.

Webster 1913