purview
Americannoun
-
the range of operation, authority, control, concern, etc.
- Synonyms:
- extent, compass, responsibility, scope
-
the range of vision, insight, or understanding.
-
Law.
-
that which is provided or enacted in a statute, as distinguished from the preamble.
-
the purpose or scope of a statute.
-
-
the full scope or compass of any document, statement, subject, book, etc.
noun
-
the scope of operation or concern of something
-
the breadth or range of outlook or understanding
-
law the body of a statute, containing the enacting clauses
Etymology
Origin of purview
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English purveu, from Anglo-French: past participle of purveier “to furnish or supply”; see origin at purvey
Explanation
The range or scope of something is its purview. If you are a professional race car driver, performing surgery is way outside your purview. Anything inside a range of interest or activity is within a purview. A supervisor is in charge of certain workers — other workers are outside her purview. The surgeon general deals with medical issues: the defense budget is outside his purview. When a business expands, it's trying to increase its purview. If you go to the dentist and ask her to paint a picture of your tooth rather than extracting it, you're likely to discover you've gone way beyond her purview.
Vocabulary lists containing purview
Common Senses: Vid, Vis ("See")
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!
This Week In Words: August 17–23, 2019
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!
Between the World and Me
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.
Asked about the funds during the recent Senate hearing, Rubio claimed they were under the purview of the OMB.
From Salon • Jun. 23, 2026
The EPA requires facilities under its purview to plan for worst-case scenarios.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
Other companies that have in recent years broadened their purview to stretch across multiple pillars of the real estate ecosystem have not been rewarded by investors this year.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
He is right that the Fed has strayed well beyond its purview and should revert its focus to price stability and full employment.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
Music education in the early 20th century continued under the purview of the music supervisor, while classroom teachers were trained to teach music to their students.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
