noun
jurisdiction
joor-is-DIK-shun/ˌdʒʊrɪsˈdɪkʃn/
The recognized scope of a governing authority's legal power.
The judge points to the region within the court's jurisdiction.
Etymology
Literally a “saying of the law,” the word first referred to administering justice. It then came to mean the authority to do so and the territory or matters over which that authority extends.
In context
I don't have jurisdiction over this case. The only thing that I can do is dismiss it.
More examples
- Federal courts have jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases.
- That property lies outside the city's jurisdiction.
- Neighboring jurisdictions sometimes enforce different building codes.
Forms
jurisdiction · jurisdictions
jurisdictional adjective — Relating to the limits of legal authority.