What does "jurisdiction" mean?

1. (legal authority) the official power to make legal decisions or to apply the law. 2. (geographic area) an area or territory where a specific set of laws or a specific government has power.

How do you use "jurisdiction"?

Often used with the verbs 'have', 'exercise', or 'fall under'. Commonly used as a countable noun when comparing different regions.

jurisdiction

US //ˌdʒʊɹəsˈdɪkʃən// UK //dʒˌɔːɹɪsdˈɪkʃən// ju·ris·dic·tion

1 legal authority (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Academic Law

the official power to make legal decisions or to apply the law.

the legal power or authority to interpret and apply the law. Often used in the context of a court's right to hear a specific case.

Example

The local court does not have jurisdiction over crimes committed in another country.

Example

The high court ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the appeal, as the matter fell strictly under the authority of the maritime tribunal.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'have', 'exercise', or 'fall under'.
- impotence
2 geographic area (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Academic Law

an area or territory where a specific set of laws or a specific government has power.

the geographical area or territory within which a particular legal authority or government operates.

Example

The company operates in several different jurisdictions, each with its own tax laws.

Example

Extradition processes are often complicated by the conflicting legal requirements of the two jurisdictions involved in the case.

Usage

Commonly used as a countable noun when comparing different regions.

Origin

From Latin iūrisdictiō.

Word family

Nounjurisdiction
Adjectivejurisdictional