bailiwick

American  

[bey-luh-wik] / ˈbeɪ ləˌwɪk /

noun

1. the district within which a bailie or bailiff has jurisdiction.

2. a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.

   to confine suggestions to one's own bailiwick.

   Synonyms:

   turf, territory, sphere, department, domain

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bailiwick British  

/ ˈbeɪlɪwɪk /

noun

1. law the area over which a bailiff has jurisdiction

2. a person's special field of interest, authority, or skill

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Other Word Forms

• subbailiwick noun

Etymology

Origin of bailiwick

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, equivalent to baili- bailie + wick wick ³

Example Sentences

The bailiwick is placed below the UK and France in the 2025 survey and its overall score was unchanged compared with 2023.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

But he has intervened in reviews and jettisoned other drugs that fall outside his bailiwick.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

I didn’t want to have any input because that’s not my bailiwick.

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2024

Its abilities were astonishing — and squarely in the bailiwick of people who generate content, such as advertising copy and blog posts, for a living.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2023

The pain was beyond the bailiwick of crushed aspirins or oil of cloves.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou