federal court

noun

: a court established by a federal government
especially : one established under the constitution and laws of the U.S.

Examples of federal court 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.
His attorneys have argued in federal court that he should be allowed to ignore the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship for those born in the U.S. and terminate the rights of children born to parents who were in the country illegally. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 10 June 2025 Huerta, 58, had been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles since Friday and made his initial appearance in federal court Monday afternoon. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025 In lower federal courts, various other legal challenges to gun control laws are progressing toward petitions at the Supreme Court, including lawsuits challenging assault weapons bans. Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025 But attorneys for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Farmworker Association of Florida and two individual plaintiffs filed the challenge in federal court in South Florida, alleging the state law is unconstitutional. Jim Saunders, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for federal court

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of federal court was in 1789

Cite this Entry

“Federal court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/federal%20court. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Legal Definition

federal court

noun
: a court established by the federal government and having jurisdiction over questions of federal law
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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