bailiwick

American  

[bey-luh-wik] / ˈbeɪ ləˌwɪk /

noun

1. the district within which a bailie or bailiff has jurisdiction.

2. a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.

   to confine suggestions to one's own bailiwick.

   Synonyms:

   turf, territory, sphere, department, domain

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bailiwick British  

/ ˈbeɪlɪwɪk /

noun

1. law the area over which a bailiff has jurisdiction

2. a person's special field of interest, authority, or skill

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Other Word Forms

• subbailiwick noun

Etymology

Origin of bailiwick

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, equivalent to baili- bailie + wick wick ³

Example Sentences

The bailiwick is placed below the UK and France in the 2025 survey and its overall score was unchanged compared with 2023.

From BBC

But he has intervened in reviews and jettisoned other drugs that fall outside his bailiwick.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I think it's a thing which is outside the bailiwick of lots of people, and yet I think it stands the most chance of giving a really dynamic impulse to the whole scientific enterprise.”

From Salon

They are already reportedly chafing at the Musk "DOGE" contraption since budgeting really is their bailiwick and they want to do the cutting themselves.

From Salon

I didn’t want to have any input because that’s not my bailiwick.

From Salon