<?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-20200506.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_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" 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_7E385BDEBE28DE170F4DF09F1727C16D" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_7E385BDEBE28DE170F4DF09F1727C16D" 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_E9B4E393B8B1697E2036F09F17274126" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_7E385BDEBE28DE170F4DF09F1727C16D" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_E9B4E393B8B1697E2036F09F17274126" 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_44590A94CE090F35D42BF09F17281143_default" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_E9B4E393B8B1697E2036F09F17274126" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_44590A94CE090F35D42BF09F17281143_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_44590A94CE090F35D42BF09F17281143" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_E9B4E393B8B1697E2036F09F17274126" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_44590A94CE090F35D42BF09F17281143" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="frt-20200506.xsd#frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember_37E697789E9C3A278240F09F17287031" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_44590A94CE090F35D42BF09F17281143" xlink:to="loc_frt_CommonSharesOfBeneficialInterestMember_37E697789E9C3A278240F09F17287031" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="frt-20200506.xsd#frt_DepositorySharesMember" xlink:label="loc_frt_DepositorySharesMember_D3EF59BC6556DDC2B533F09F1729374B" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_44590A94CE090F35D42BF09F17281143" xlink:to="loc_frt_DepositorySharesMember_D3EF59BC6556DDC2B533F09F1729374B" 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_2DF5D04A1254EC5F6536F09F172AE499" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_2DF5D04A1254EC5F6536F09F172AE499" 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_2BEACD958E07AB5A1282F09F172A5E85" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2BEACD958E07AB5A1282F09F172A5E85" 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_FC8C6001CB0A74D21202F09F17303D51" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_FC8C6001CB0A74D21202F09F17303D51" 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_A32170E1506E734AF66CF09F173060B0" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_A32170E1506E734AF66CF09F173060B0" 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_BB88E41851DAA0D86D72F09F1730A6B1" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_BB88E41851DAA0D86D72F09F1730A6B1" 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_BF90CE07FEFF93825A04F09F1730D7B9" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_BF90CE07FEFF93825A04F09F1730D7B9" 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_875AA510407AD38CE04FF09F173047E2" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_875AA510407AD38CE04FF09F173047E2" 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_98C130051ED1A1FE2695F09F17310E7B" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_98C130051ED1A1FE2695F09F17310E7B" 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_CE0957137685AEF19CCAF09F1731BCAB" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_CE0957137685AEF19CCAF09F1731BCAB" 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_B512BF32D3023F60FB8BF09F1731210E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_B512BF32D3023F60FB8BF09F1731210E" 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_64A59546408BBEAB672AF09F17313E43" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_64A59546408BBEAB672AF09F17313E43" 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_E2B88CDB8AD5ABE3A10CF09F1731F48E" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_E2B88CDB8AD5ABE3A10CF09F1731F48E" 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_F4E2A46BBC425005D86DF09F17328F66" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_F4E2A46BBC425005D86DF09F17328F66" 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_1E30213E7DE7427ECD36F09F1732BE70" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_1E30213E7DE7427ECD36F09F1732BE70" 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_2F232BA7448940D426FDF09F17327678" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_2F232BA7448940D426FDF09F17327678" 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_09415F191DC8EFBA24D3F09F1732B9E6" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_09415F191DC8EFBA24D3F09F1732B9E6" 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_C21412773CE4BC3834ADF09F17380DD0" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_C21412773CE4BC3834ADF09F17380DD0" 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_C71A3D4B2DACD3442E87F09F173878F7" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_C71A3D4B2DACD3442E87F09F173878F7" 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_F03907F4236C78F61B29F09F1738EED4" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_F03907F4236C78F61B29F09F1738EED4" 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_38D2898F0F794F94B959F09F173819ED" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_38D2898F0F794F94B959F09F173819ED" 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_18529B12A3826D34D9CCF09F173873EF" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_18529B12A3826D34D9CCF09F173873EF" 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_EFB726B235844622C5CDF09F17386638" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_EFB726B235844622C5CDF09F17386638" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentDescription" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentDescription_274EF904A9C7C75A00AAF09F173851A8" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:definitionArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_DAA3A687893414FC1705F09F17295ECA" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentDescription_274EF904A9C7C75A00AAF09F173851A8" xlink:type="arc" />
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
