jurisdiction

Noun

jurisdiction (countable and uncountable, plural jurisdictions)

1. The power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law.
   • legal jurisdiction
   • The case falls outside the court’s jurisdiction.

   Synonyms:

   power, authority, disposition, craft, force, might, potence, potency, strength, virtue

2. The power or right to exercise authority.
   • outside the jurisdiction of

   Synonyms:

   oyer and terminer, soc and sac

3. The power or right to perform some action as part of applying the law.
   • Police officers have no jurisdiction in that district.
   • The Fife County Council, and other objectors, were successful in July [1950] in obtaining an interim interdict against this decision, but the Court of Session withdrew the interdict in January, and it was then stated that a civil court had no jurisdiction in the matter.1951 April, “Notes and News: North Fife Line, Scotland”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 281
4. The authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate.
   • Thus fell that glorious Minion of Edward the Second, who for a time appeared liked [sic.] a blazing Comet, and sway'd the jurisdiction of the state of England, and her Confederates.c. 1620s, Elizabeth Cary [misattributed to Henry Cary], The History Of the most unfortunate Prince King Edward II. […] , London: A.G. and F. P., published 1680, page 12
5. The limits or territory within which authority may be exercised.
   • The United Kingdom consists of three jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
   • The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them[…]is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies.[…]current tax rules make it easy for all sorts of firms to generate[…]“stateless income”: profit subject to tax in a jurisdiction that is neither...2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, archived from the original on 11 Jul 2013, page 68