federal case

American  

noun

1. a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of a federal court or a federal law-enforcement agency.

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idioms

1. make a federal case (out) of, to exaggerate the importance of or make an issue out of (something trivial).

Etymology

Origin of federal case

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

federal case

They didn’t do that because they wanted to have the trappings and the veneer of making it look as if it were a real federal case.

From Slate ● Jun. 9, 2026

In the federal case, the judge ruled that prosecutors could use the backpack evidence in question.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

Each has also pleaded guilty in the federal case.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

Eileen Wang, an Arcadia city leader facing charges of acting as an illegal foreign agent of China, resigned Monday after reaching an agreement to resolve the federal case.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

They would have made a federal case out of it, getting upset, calling the cops .

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix