jurisdiction
Americannoun
-
the right, power, or authority to administer justice by hearing and determining controversies.
-
power; authority; control.
He has jurisdiction over all American soldiers in the area.
-
the extent or range of judicial, law enforcement, or other authority.
This case comes under the jurisdiction of the local police.
-
the territory over which authority is exercised.
All islands to the northwest are his jurisdiction.
noun
-
the right or power to administer justice and to apply laws
-
the exercise or extent of such right or power
-
power or authority in general
Other Word Forms
- jurisdictional adjective
- jurisdictionally adverb
- jurisdictive adjective
- prejurisdiction noun
- superjurisdiction noun
Etymology
Origin of jurisdiction
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin jūris dictiōn-, stem of jūris dictiō, literally, “a saying of law,” from jūris, genitive of jūs “law, right” ( jus 1 ( def. ) ) + dictiō “rhetorical delivery, a saying” ( diction ); replacing Middle English jurediccioun, from Old French juredicion, from Latin, as above
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sauer therefore engaged in his first bit of linguistic legerdemain, telling the court, “ ‘Allegiance’ is what jurisdiction means.”
From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026
The government filed a motion to dismiss the case late last year, arguing that the federal court did not have jurisdiction over the matter.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
The citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
The oral arguments turned on a key clause in the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the US who are "subject to the jurisdiction thereof."
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
Its jurisdiction was strictly limited to relations among the nations and outside groups; internal affairs were the province of the individual nations.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
