jurisdiction
Americannoun
-
jurisdictions
plural
-
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
Derived Forms
-
prejurisdictionnoun
-
superjurisdictionnoun
-
jurisdictionaladjective
-
jurisdictiveadjective
-
jurisdictionallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing jurisdiction
The Declaration of Independence
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
You Be the Judge: Jud, Jur, Jus
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
You Can Say That Again: Dic and Dict
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
In a report, the analyst says that while the country has long been viewed as an attractive jurisdiction for LNG development, red tape and restrictive environmental policies were limiting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
However UAE officials say they have jurisdiction over the incident because the aircraft on which the attack took place is registered there and flies under its flag.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
He said Brazil is a well-established and supportive mining jurisdiction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
District Judge James V. Selna dismissed that complaint, ruling his Santa Ana court lacked jurisdiction over the foreign automakers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Xenocrates looked over to the Parliamentarian, who had jurisdiction in such matters.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
“It comes to getting these other jurisdictions to pay their fair share for using our infrastructure,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The reason that automatic promotion spots are handed to the champions in the West and Southwest is simply because there are more men's football teams registered in those jurisdictions - because more people live there.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
The Department of Pesticide Regulation is charged with statewide enforcement and provides guidance and training for 55 county agricultural commissioners, who police their jurisdictions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
In a post explaining the shutdown, CoinEx cited “continuously rising regulatory requirements across major jurisdictions, as well as compliance costs” and other factors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
There were times when I imagined myself, like Prince, tracked through many jurisdictions by a man in a criminal’s costume.
From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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.
