jurisdiction

[joo r-is-dik-shuh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR jurisdiction ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

Origin of jurisdiction

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin jūris dictiōn- stem of jūris dictiō (see jus, diction); replacing Middle English jurediccioun < Old French juredicion < Latin, as above

Related formsju·ris·dic·tion·al, adjectiveju·ris·dic·tive, adjectiveju·ris·dic·tion·al·ly, adverbpre·ju·ris·dic·tion, nounsu·per·ju·ris·dic·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for jurisdiction

Contemporary Examples of jurisdiction

The Charlottesville Police did indeed have jurisdiction over the Phi Kappa Psi house.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything
Liz Seccuro
December 16, 2014
APPLICABLE LAWS AND JURISDICTION: This Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
The Daily Beast Company LLC The New Alphas Sweepstakes Official Rules
December 9, 2014
You are in the jurisdiction of the starostie, and I am grand officer of the crown, and grand cordon of the White Eagle.
Book Bag: Beguiling if Unlikely Travel Books
Sean Wilsey
September 4, 2014
The department has no jurisdiction over atomic energy secrets.
Fired From Los Alamos for Pushing Obama's Nuclear Agenda
Center for Public Integrity
July 31, 2014
While she ruled that she did not have jurisdiction to stop the force feeding, she urged the president to end the practice.
Putin Sanctions Abu Ghraib Soldiers and Guantanamo Officials
Josh Rogin
July 19, 2014

Historical Examples of jurisdiction

This was a civil court with power, of jurisdiction over felonies.
The Little Manx Nation - 1891
Hall Caine
Had a judgment, liable to the same objections, been rendered for property, none would question the jurisdiction of this Court.
Opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, at January Term, 1832, Delivered by Mr. Chief Justice Marshall in the Case of Samuel A. Worcester, Plaintiff in Error, versus the State of Georgia
John Marshall
Prue and Idalene and Bertha he would have sentenced to deportation if he had had the jurisdiction.
In a Little Town
Rupert Hughes
The person to whom my suspicions refer, is beyond your jurisdiction, Mr. Arnold.
David Elginbrod
George MacDonald
And once he got that crowd back into his jurisdiction, there'd be no further problems.
The Best Made Plans
Everett B. Cole

British Dictionary definitions for jurisdiction

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

Derived Formsjurisdictional, adjectivejurisdictionally, adverbjurisdictive, adjective

Word Origin for jurisdiction

C13: from Latin jūrisdictiō administration of justice; see jus, diction

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for jurisdiction

early 14c. "administration of justice" (attested from mid-13c. in Anglo-Latin), from Old French juridiccion (13c.) and directly from Latin iurisdictionem (nominative iurisdictio) "administration of justice, jurisdiction," from ius (genitive iuris; see jurist) "right, law" + dictio "a saying" (see diction). Meaning "extent or range of administrative power" is from late 14c. Related: Jurisdictional.