federalist
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈfɛdɝəɫɪst// UK //fˈɛdəɹəlˌɪst// fed·er·al·ist
n. a person who supports a system of government where power is shared between a central authority and local states.
n. an advocate of a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority while remaining independent in internal affairs.
The federalist argued for a stronger central government.
During the constitutional debates, the federalist faction pushed for a unified national bank to stabilize the economy.
The tension between the federalist vision of a cohesive national identity and the localist desire for state autonomy has shaped the country's legal landscape for centuries.
Usage
When referring to the specific 18th-century American political party, it is typically capitalized.