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.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office charged the men with drug crimes, but later dropped the charges to clear the way for a federal case. Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025 The new defense filing in the federal case used some of the testimony from that suppression hearing to argue the evidence should also be excluded from Mangione’s federal case. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2025 On Friday, Mangione’s defense is expected to file documents related to his federal case, where Mangione faces the death penalty. Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2025 Walshe was previously convicted of fraud in a separate federal case. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025 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 26 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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