bailiwick

[ bey-luh-wik ]

noun

1. the district within which a bailie or bailiff has jurisdiction.
2. a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work:

   to confine suggestions to one's own bailiwick.

   Synonyms: turf, territory, sphere, department, domain

bailiwick

/ ˈbeɪlɪwɪk /

noun

1. law the area over which a bailiff has jurisdiction
2. a person's special field of interest, authority, or skill

Other Words From

• sub·baili·wick noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bailiwick¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, equivalent to baili- bailie + wick wick ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of bailiwick¹

C15: from baili(e) + wick ²

Example Sentences

“We try to think of ourselves as about a lot more than the birds, because really all nature is our bailiwick,” Alexander said.

From Washington Post

As he traveled and collected he constantly sent back seed samples, hundreds of thousands of them in total, to the institutes and field stations under his bailiwick.

From Nautilus

He does so, hands in his star and rides on, leaving his bailiwick in the condition his patrons wanted.

From The Daily Beast

In 1429 the English occupied the bailiwick of Chaumont and garrisoned several fortresses in Bassigny.

From Project Gutenberg

Its tolerble late, if you happen to know it, and youre a little out of your own bailiwick, arent you?

From Project Gutenberg

Now these two bailiffs kept their bailiwick in peace many years, until they were said to be remiss in keeping the King's justice.

From Project Gutenberg

This guy, Lester, makes out a bond before we're within two days' drive of his bailiwick.

From Project Gutenberg

All relations between the two women had been severed irrevocably, each keeping to her own respective bailiwick.

From Project Gutenberg