federal case

noun

: big deal
don't make a federal case out of it

Examples of federal case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In their eyes, this policy violates their First Amendment rights, and the Sheley's have joined the federal case challenging the state's requirements. — Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 The incident was captured on video, which became part of the evidence in the federal case. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 He has not been charged in connection with the Iowa allegations because local authorities were waiting for him to be sentenced in the federal case. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 On Tuesday, a North Carolina man was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the first federal case connected to music streaming fraud. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for federal case

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of federal case was in 1950

Rhymes for federal case

See All Rhymes for federal case

Browse Nearby Words

federal assembly
federal case
federal chancellor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Federal case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/federal%20case. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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