The 1981–82 Yugoslav First League season was the 36th season of the First Federal League (Serbo-Croatian: Prva savezna liga), the top level association football competition of SFR Yugoslavia, since its establishment in 1946.
Dinamo Zagreb led by Miroslav Blažević won their fourth title five points ahead of previous season's champions Red Star.
A total of 18 teams contested the league, including 16 sides from the 1980–81 season and two clubs promoted from the 1980–81 Yugoslav Second League as winners of the two second level subdivisions East and West.
Borac Banja Luka and Napredak Kruševac were relegated at the end of the previous season.
Osijek and Teteks Tetovo were promoted from the 1980–81 Yugoslav Second League.