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
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The Orange County district attorney’s office had originally charged Jennings in connection to the shooting but dismissed the case to allow for the federal case to proceed, according to the Justice Department. Seamus Bozeman follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 If he is later found competent, the federal case could resume. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Chelsea Torres, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026 The Orange County District Attorney's Office charged Jennings in connection with this incident, but dismissed the case so the federal case against him could proceed. Julie Sharp, CBS News, 8 June 2026 The judge in his federal case, Tanya Chutkan, had a different take on his sense of remorse, writing to the admissions office at the Citadel to ask officials to give him a second chance. Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 June 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 13 Jun. 2026.

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