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Bailiwick: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Bailiwick noun. A person’s particular area of skill, interest or responsibility.
How to say it
BAY-lih-wik/ˈbeɪlɪwɪk/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (BAY).
Meanings
- A person’s particular area of skill, interest or responsibility.
- Historically, the district under a bailiff’s authority.
Bailiwick in a sentence
The wine list is very much the sommelier’s bailiwick, so ask her.
Budgets were never his bailiwick; he left the numbers to his partner.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- domain
- province
- territory
- sphere
Where bailiwick comes from
From bailie, a bailiff, and Old English wīc, a dwelling or village.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Budgets were never his _____; he left the numbers to his partner.
- collusion
- presenteeism
- bailiwick
Show the answer
bailiwick: Budgets were never his bailiwick; he left the numbers to his partner.