jurisdiction
joor-rihs-DIHK-shuhn
Jurisdiction (noun) means the official authority to make legal decisions and judgments over a particular area, group of people, or type of case. Example: “Which court has jurisdiction over a dispute between two countries?”
noun
1
The official authority to make legal decisions and judgments over a particular area, group of people, or type of case.
"Which court has jurisdiction over a dispute between two countries?"
"The case falls outside the court's jurisdiction."
"Local police have jurisdiction only within the city limits."
How to use jurisdiction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe area or scope over which a court, government, or authority has legal power.
Common pairings
fall under jurisdiction
have jurisdiction over
outside its jurisdiction
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Word forms
- Plural
- jurisdictions
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Which court has _____ over a dispute between two countries?
Etymology
From Latin iurisdictio, combining ius, "law," and dictio, "the saying/declaring" — literally, the power to declare the law.
Related words
Rhymes for jurisdiction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for jurisdiction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “jurisdiction” mean?
The word “jurisdiction” means the official authority to make legal decisions and judgments over a particular area, group of people, or type of case. In plain terms, the area or scope over which a court, government, or authority has legal power.
How do you pronounce “jurisdiction”?
“Jurisdiction” is pronounced joor-rihs-DIHK-shuhn (/d͡ʒʊɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “jurisdiction” in a sentence?
Here is “jurisdiction” used in a sentence: “The case falls outside the court's jurisdiction.”
What part of speech is “jurisdiction”?
“Jurisdiction” is a noun.
Where does the word “jurisdiction” come from?
The word “jurisdiction” comes from Latin. From Latin iurisdictio, combining ius, "law," and dictio, "the saying/declaring" — literally, the power to declare the law.
Is “jurisdiction” a common word?
“Jurisdiction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between jurisdiction and authority?
Authority is a general power to act or make decisions, while jurisdiction is authority that is limited to a particular area, group of people, or type of case. Jurisdiction defines the specific boundaries within which legal authority can be exercised.
What prepositions are used with jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction is commonly followed by over, as in jurisdiction over a case or over a region. It also appears with under and within, as in cases within a court's jurisdiction.
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