Synonyms

federal case

American

noun

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

idioms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Mangione is also charged in a separate federal case, in which he has also pleaded not guilty.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

Wang resigned from the City Council on Monday after reaching an agreement to resolve the federal case.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

“She didn’t have to go make a federal case out of it.”

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023