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 federal case against Ulibarri was filed in August. Max Levy, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025 The federal case against Matar also notably ties the attack back to the infamous fatwa that Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued against Rushdie in 1989 over his depiction of the prophet Muhammad in The Satanic Verses. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025 With the federal case against TSG settled, a state investigation into Michael's unexplained death began to heat up. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2025 Smith pulled the plug on both federal cases, citing guidelines that bar the feds from prosecuting a sitting president. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 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 14 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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