jurisdiction
Jurisdiction (noun) means the official authority to make legal decisions and judgments over a particular area, group of people, or type of case. Example: “The case falls outside the court's jurisdiction.”
How to use jurisdiction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe area or scope over which a court, government, or authority has legal power.
Word forms
jurisdictions plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The case falls outside the court's _____.
Etymology
From Latin iurisdictio, combining ius, "law," and dictio, "the saying/declaring" — literally, the power to declare the law.
Related words
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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