noun

jurisdiction

/dʒʊəˈrɪsdɪkʃən/ · say it: joor·is·DIK·shun

a court's authority to hear and decide cases

In more detail

1. (noun) the power or right of a court or official to make decisions and enforce laws in a particular area or over particular people

2. (noun) the area or group of people over which a court or official has this power

Examples

1. The case is outside the jurisdiction of this court because it happened in another state. 2. This police officer has jurisdiction over the downtown area.

How to use jurisdiction

Jurisdiction refers to both the legal authority to make decisions and the geographic or personal area over which that authority extends. It is used in legal, governmental, and administrative contexts to describe which court, agency, or official has the power to handle a particular matter. The term is formal and precise, commonly appearing in legal documents and official discourse.

Common phrases

within jurisdiction
outside jurisdiction
fall under jurisdiction
territorial jurisdiction
legal jurisdiction

Synonyms

authority · power · control · domain · scope

Word family

jurisdictional (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use jurisdiction to mean simply a geographic area or territory, forgetting that it specifically refers to legal authority or power over that area.

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