Phrase guide

universal jurisdiction

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A principle whereby a state claims legal jurisdiction over persons whose alleged crimes were committed outside the boundaries of the prosecuting state, regardless of the accused's nationality, country of residence, or other relationship with the prosecuting country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Qualifier: international law

Examples

  • "Amnesty International’s legal memorandum, Universal Jurisdiction: the duty of states to enact and implement legislation, documents more than 125 states that have universal jurisdiction over at least one of the crimes. The organization is campaigning for all states to enact universal jurisdiction legislation over all six crimes."https://web.archive.org/web/20091109030738/http://www.amnesty.org/en/international-justice/issues/universal-jurisdiction

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 普遍管轄權 /普遍管辖权 (pǔbiàn guǎnxiáquán, pǔpiàn guǎnxiáquán) — Translations
  • French: compétence universelle — Translations
  • German: Weltrechtsprinzip — Translations
  • German: Universalitätsprinzip — Translations
  • Korean: 보편관할권 (bopyeon'gwanhalgwon) — Translations