<?xml version="1.0" encoding="US-ASCII"?>
<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!-- -->
<link:linkbase xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.federalrealty.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:href="frt-20191030.xsd#CoverPage" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.federalrealty.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityInformationLineItems" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntitiesTable" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_84BEF6A56C160F02DF510384B7560C74" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_84BEF6A56C160F02DF510384B7560C74" xlink:type="arc" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2019/elts/us-gaap-2019-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_2F49BA6CEE7E695797050384B7570D25" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_84BEF6A56C160F02DF510384B7560C74" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_2F49BA6CEE7E695797050384B7570D25" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2019/elts/us-gaap-2019-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_3906AEF59F0EF87882F00384B757BDF4_default" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_2F49BA6CEE7E695797050384B7570D25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_3906AEF59F0EF87882F00384B757BDF4_default" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2019/elts/us-gaap-2019-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_3906AEF59F0EF87882F00384B757BDF4" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_2F49BA6CEE7E695797050384B7570D25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_3906AEF59F0EF87882F00384B757BDF4" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="frt-20191030.xsd#frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember_87A4533AEAC18A4E1DAA0384B757AD25" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_3906AEF59F0EF87882F00384B757BDF4" xlink:to="loc_frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember_87A4533AEAC18A4E1DAA0384B757AD25" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="frt-20191030.xsd#frt_DepositorySharesMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_DepositorySharesMember_9A063C56EFC660481B720384B75852F2" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_3906AEF59F0EF87882F00384B757BDF4" xlink:to="loc_frt_DepositorySharesMember_9A063C56EFC660481B720384B75852F2" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_49671033D97B15513F800384B78DD790" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_49671033D97B15513F800384B78DD790" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_3E821F058A25BD5D53930384D8417DFD" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_3E821F058A25BD5D53930384D8417DFD" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_51C86C48F00CECFCEAB50384F8696FC5" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_51C86C48F00CECFCEAB50384F8696FC5" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_E05F05D5E0CA0E24C9060384B7584F22" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_E05F05D5E0CA0E24C9060384B7584F22" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_563AE4B432329B8FA04A0384B7583CB7" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_563AE4B432329B8FA04A0384B7583CB7" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_57CEACE7B987C2D5998F0384B759A0AD" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_57CEACE7B987C2D5998F0384B759A0AD" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_D72D1B38A73B50225A420384B759A627" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_D72D1B38A73B50225A420384B759A627" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_6AA916ABDFB15BEFEB330384B759C241" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_6AA916ABDFB15BEFEB330384B759C241" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_95859DA705AF1BD55ACE0384B759FA01" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_95859DA705AF1BD55ACE0384B759FA01" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_9486D36357D62A9DE6A10384B7599495" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_9486D36357D62A9DE6A10384B7599495" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_7082BB41F7268FF9C3270384B75A46EE" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_7082BB41F7268FF9C3270384B75A46EE" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_3F32243E21D3EDACB48E0384B75A1CF0" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_3F32243E21D3EDACB48E0384B75A1CF0" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_4139327D15A50D739D030384B75AF6BA" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_4139327D15A50D739D030384B75AF6BA" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_6F57DDF7AD1C3884B1E70384B75A709B" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_6F57DDF7AD1C3884B1E70384B75A709B" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_85B67046F57521B705360384B75A0BBF" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_85B67046F57521B705360384B75A0BBF" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_F07D7D61C6640EEDCBFA0384B75A69E8" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_F07D7D61C6640EEDCBFA0384B75A69E8" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_F60D09C73B102469335C0384B75AA55E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_F60D09C73B102469335C0384B75AA55E" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_3BDEA1D71BB70CAE9EF80384B75BB5CC" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_3BDEA1D71BB70CAE9EF80384B75BB5CC" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_494F6CE9057DDFAE09050384B75B3A80" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_494F6CE9057DDFAE09050384B75B3A80" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_970F55240B9A921EE3DF0384B75B45CB" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_970F55240B9A921EE3DF0384B75B45CB" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_2890FD949ADCBE1143830384B75B4775" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_2890FD949ADCBE1143830384B75B4775" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_C4312CD656F6EB7231B60384B75B6C5F" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_64012B9DF1F64BD8857F0384B75835C2" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_C4312CD656F6EB7231B60384B75B6C5F" xlink:type="arc" />
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
