Another reason I don't like "federated" as a term is this:

If somebody says something is federated, how many things do you think are federating? My default assumption would be: maybe a few dozen. Like the federated 50 US states, or the 16 states in the Federal Republic of Germany, or maybe a handful of healthcare organizations in an identity federation.

My default assumption is not: tens of thousands, as the fediverse is today, or even millions as the fediverse may be tomorrow.