jurisdiction

American  

[joor-is-dik-shuhn] / ˌdʒʊər ɪsˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

jurisdictions plural

1. the right, power, or authority to administer justice by hearing and determining controversies.

2. power; authority; control.

   He has jurisdiction over all American soldiers in the area.

3. the extent or range of judicial, law enforcement, or other authority.

   This case comes under the jurisdiction of the local police.

4. the territory over which authority is exercised.

   All islands to the northwest are his jurisdiction.

---

jurisdiction British  

/ ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. the right or power to administer justice and to apply laws

2. the exercise or extent of such right or power

3. power or authority in general

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prejurisdiction
  noun
• superjurisdiction
  noun
• jurisdictional
  adjective
• jurisdictive
  adjective
• jurisdictionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• jurisdictions
  plural

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” ( see jus ¹ ( def. )) + dictiō “rhetorical delivery, a saying” ( see diction); replacing Middle English jurediccioun, from Old French juredicion, from Latin, as above

Explanation

Jurisdiction means having a legal right over something. A court can have jurisdiction over a legal question, and a government can have jurisdiction over another country or territory. Even your parents could be said to have jurisdiction over you while you're under 18. This noun jurisdiction descends from Latin jūrisdictiō, formed from jūris (from jūs "law") plus dictio, "the act of saying." Think of it as who has the right to "say" what "the law" is. In the U.S., certain crimes are tried in state courts, but when a crime involves more than one state, jurisdiction moves to the federal court system, just as the local police step down and the investigation is handled by the FBI.

Example Sentences

In a maelstrom, one might think such niggling questions of jurisdiction and their attendant turf wars would be set aside.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026

The case in Vienna was a relatively rare example of a European country claiming jurisdiction for crimes committed by agents of Assad's government.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

The 14th Amendment says that a child born in the United States and “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” is a citizen.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2026

Instead, he stayed put at his property in Switzerland, meaning he was outside the court’s jurisdiction.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026

The Levitt-built houses sprawl over three Pennsylvania townships—Bristol, Middletown, and Falls, as well as a tiny jurisdiction called Tullytown Borough—and the children who live in them go to one of three different public school districts.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Related Words

• administration
• arbitration
• authority
• command
• commission
• control
• discretion
• district
• domination
• influence
• power
• prerogative
• purview
• rule
• scope
• sovereignty
• supervision
• territory
• zone