C1nounformal3K

Jurisdiction

UK /["/ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃn/"]/US /["/ˌdʒʊrɪsˈdɪkʃn/"]/

Definition

the authority that an official organization has to make legal decisions about somebody/something

In simple words: The authority or control over a legal area or subject.

Examples

  • The English court had no jurisdiction over the defendants.
  • The Court of Appeal exercised its jurisdiction to order a review of the case.
  • These matters do not fall within our jurisdiction.
  • The Senate committees have exclusive jurisdiction over the FBI.
  • He is subject to the jurisdiction of the Indian courts.
  • The British courts have universal jurisdiction over torture cases.
  • The court has no jurisdiction in this case.
  • The matter is outside the jurisdiction of UK administrative agencies.
  • The territory is still under Russian jurisdiction.
  • Practice varies between different European jurisdictions.

Usage notes

Use 'jurisdiction' in legal contexts. It's formal and typically not used in casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with 'authority' which can be broader.

Grammar pattern

jurisdiction + over/for + object

Memory hint

Think of 'jury' and 'dict' — a jury's authority (jurisdiction) is defined.

Collocations

  • limited
  • universal
  • exclusive
  • have
  • retain
  • exercise
  • beyond your jurisdiction
  • outside your jurisdiction
  • under jurisdiction
  • limited
  • universal
  • exclusive
  • have
  • retain
  • exercise
  • beyond your jurisdiction
  • outside your jurisdiction
  • under jurisdiction

Synonyms

  • authority
  • control
  • governance
  • power
  • rule

Antonyms

  • anarchy
  • lawlessness
  • chaos

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'judiciary' which refers to the court system.
  • Used informally when discussing non-legal matters.
  • Incorrectly combined with non-related nouns.