English Reference
noun

jurisdiction

n.
US /ˌdʒʊɹəsˈdɪkʃən/ UK /dʒˌɔːɹɪsdˈɪkʃən/ ju·ris·dic·tion UK spelling jurisdiction's, jurisdiction's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced FormalAcademic 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

    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'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced FormalAcademic 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

    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.

That concession would depend on the agreement of the provinces, which are in control of the alcohol in their respective jurisdictions.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

The primary obstacle to mapping international variations is data accessibility, which remains constrained across different jurisdictions.

Phys.org· 13 Aug 2026

From Latin iūrisdictiō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin iūrisdictiō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated