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.

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

Yet the federal case against Smith-Griffin began before Trump took office.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

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

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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