An "area of authority" refers to a designated range of responsibilities or decision-making power within an organization or institution. There are several synonyms for this term, including "jurisdiction," "territory," "realm," "purview," "scope," "sphere," and "domain." Each of these words suggests a different type of authority, with "jurisdiction" emphasizing legal power, "territory" suggesting geographic control, and "domain" referring to an area of specialized knowledge. "Scope" and "purview" indicate the range of responsibilities within an organization, while "realm" and "sphere" suggest a broader, more abstract area of control. These synonyms offer a range of options for expressing the concept of "area of authority" in different contexts.