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Law vocabulary · Courts & Judges

Jurisdiction

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃn/nounCore term

In law, jurisdiction means: The official power of a court to hear and decide a case; also the country, state or area where a particular set of laws applies.

In Turkish: yargı yetkisi, yetki, yetki alanı

How it is used

A court 'has' or 'lacks' jurisdiction, and a party may 'challenge' it. Contracts include a 'jurisdiction clause' that chooses the courts for disputes. In the second meaning, lawyers say 'in many jurisdictions' instead of 'in many countries'.

Example sentences

  1. The defendant argues that the English courts have no jurisdiction over the dispute.

  2. The rules on non-compete clauses vary a lot from one jurisdiction to another.

Common collocations

  • have jurisdiction
  • lack jurisdiction
  • challenge jurisdiction
  • jurisdiction clause
  • exclusive jurisdiction
  • courtA place or institution where judges hear legal disputes and decide them according to the law; the word can also mean the judges themselves.
  • tribunalA body set up to hear and decide particular kinds of disputes, such as employment or tax cases, often less formal than an ordinary court; also an arbitration panel.
  • supreme courtThe highest court in a country or state, whose decisions on legal questions usually bind lower courts and cannot be appealed any further.
  • clauseA numbered section of a contract or other legal document that deals with one particular point, such as payment, termination or confidentiality.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Courts & Judges

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.