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.
Nathan Hochman said six suspects had been charged by his office, with 28 others facing federal cases. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 The federal case hit roadblocks after a magistrate judge twice rejected a search warrant, CBS News previously reported. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 8 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 The company has faced a wave of lawsuits about child safety and data security, most recently settling a major federal case involving a group of state attorneys general for nearly $17 billion. — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 3 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

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Cite this Entry

“Federal case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/federal%20case. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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