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jurisdiction

joor-iss-DIK-shun /ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃən/

nounC1GRELSAT

formallegalpolitical

The official power to make legal decisions and judgments; the extent of the power to make legal decisions and judgments.

In international environmental law, jurisdiction is a major hurdle because one country's laws usually don't apply in another country's territory.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'jus' (law) and 'dictio' (speaking/saying). It literally means 'saying the law.' It is the right to speak with the voice of the law.

Word relationships

authority: Authority is the power to give orders; jurisdiction is the legal right to exercise that power in a specific area.
dominion: Dominion implies absolute control or sovereignty, often in a more historical or poetic sense.

Commonly confused with

sovereignty: Sovereignty is the supreme power of a state; jurisdiction is the specific legal power to judge or act.

Word family

jurisdictional (adjective): Relating to jurisdiction.

Collocations

legal jurisdiction
within the jurisdiction
territorial jurisdiction
exercise jurisdiction

Example sentences

"The Court can only exercise jurisdiction if the states involved have consented to its authority." International Court of Justice ruling.
"The local police had no jurisdiction over the crime because it occurred on federal land." Law enforcement.

Memory hook

Jurisdiction is where the 'Jury' (law) has the 'Diction' (voice). The voice of the law.

When not to use

Don't use it to mean 'area' or 'neighborhood' in a casual sense.

Fun facts

The concept of 'universal jurisdiction' allows any country to prosecute individuals for certain heinous crimes, like piracy or genocide, regardless of where they happened.