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jurisdiction
noun
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Questions of jurisdiction are generally technical legal matters. The most important ones include which court will hear a given case and which law-enforcement agency can get involved. But although they may seem like mere technicalities, jurisdictional matters sometimes turn out to be all-important in the final outcome. Jurisdiction may depend on where you are (for example, in which state), on who you are (if you're a juvenile, for example, you may only be tried in juvenile court), and on what the subject is (for example, cases involving the estate left by someone who has died are dealt with in probate court).
Synonyms
power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine.
power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.
authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.
jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.
control stresses the power to direct and restrain.
command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.
sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.
dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.
Examples of jurisdiction in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jurisdiction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English jurisdiccioun, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French jurisdiction, from Latin jurisdiction-, jurisdictio, from juris + diction-, dictio act of saying — more at diction
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near jurisdiction
Cite this Entry
“Jurisdiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jurisdiction. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
jurisdiction
nounLegal Definition
jurisdiction
nounNote: Jurisdiction determines which court system should properly adjudicate a case. Questions of jurisdiction also arise regarding quasi-judicial bodies (as administrative agencies) in their decision-making capacities.
Note: Ancillary jurisdiction allows a single court to decide an entire case instead of dividing the claims among several courts and proceedings, and allows a federal court to decide a claim that would otherwise be properly brought to a state court.
Note: The diversity jurisdiction of the district courts requires that there be complete diversity of the parties, which means that no party on one side has the same citizenship as a party on the other side. Interpleader in federal district courts, however, requires only minimal diversity, which means that at least one party has citizenship that differs from the others. The federal courts have traditionally refused to exercise their diversity jurisdiction over cases involving domestic relations and probate.
Note: The federal courts have usually interpreted the statutory phrase “arising under” rather strictly. U.S. Supreme Court decisions have held that the plaintiff's pleading must establish that the cause of action raises an issue of federal law (as by depending on construction or application of a federal law).
Note: The U.S. Supreme Court has held in a series of decisions that the exercise of personal jurisdiction must meet the requirements of due process and must not violate notions of fair play and substantial justice. The constitutional standard to determine whether a party is subject to the personal jurisdiction of a court is whether that party has had minimum contacts within the territory (as a state) of that court.
Note: Diversity jurisdiction, federal question jurisdiction, and jurisdiction over admiralty and bankruptcy cases are examples of the federal courts' subject matter jurisdiction. Subject matter jurisdiction is generally established by statute.
Note: Supplemental jurisdiction was created by a federal statute that codified the judicially created doctrines of ancillary and pendent jurisdiction.
called also territorial jurisdiction
Latin jurisdictio, from juris, genitive of jus law + dictio act of saying, from dicere to say
More from Merriam-Webster on jurisdiction
Nglish: Translation of jurisdiction for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of jurisdiction for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jurisdiction
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