jurisdiction

noun

Sayjuur-is-DIK-shuhnUS/d͡ʒʊɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/UK/d͡ʒʊəɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/

Pluraljurisdictions (some meanings)

5 meanings of jurisdiction

1
noununcountable
The power a court or official has to use the law and decide cases.
Like a referee being the only one allowed to make the calls in a game.
A judge must have jurisdiction before deciding a case.
The court had jurisdiction to hear the family's complaint.
Similarauthority, power, competence
2
nouncountable
The area or region where someone in power is allowed to act.
Like the edge of a playground: a guard can only watch what happens inside the fence.
The robber ran outside the town's jurisdiction.
Police cannot act outside their own jurisdiction.
Similarterritory, area, district
Note
3
noununcountable
The right to use power or control over people or things.
Like a team captain who gets to decide things only for their own team.
The school board has jurisdiction over local schools.
The new office was given jurisdiction over road safety.
Similarauthority, control, power, remit
4
noununcountable
The power of a country or ruler to govern and make laws.
Like a king who makes the rules for his own land but not for other countries.
The king claimed jurisdiction over the whole island.
Each country has jurisdiction inside its own borders.
Similarsovereignty, authority, dominion, control, rule
Note
5
noununcountable
The right to take a legal step as part of using the law.
Like having the key to one specific door: you can open that door but not the others.
The officer had jurisdiction to sign the warrant.
Only a higher court has jurisdiction to change the result.
Similarauthority, power, competence
Note

Practice

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Origin

This word comes from the Latin word iūrisdictiō.