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fall under

B2 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To belong to a particular group, type, or area that someone is responsible for.

Literal meaning: To fall below and underneath something — being subordinate to or covered by it.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To be classified or included within a particular category, heading, or type.

"This type of fraud falls under the category of white-collar crime."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic formal

To be within the authority, responsibility, or jurisdiction of a person, department, or law.

"Complaints about online advertising fall under the remit of the relevant regulatory authority."

Grammar: inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic neutral

To come under the influence or spell of something or someone.

"Several senators fell under the lobbyist's influence during the lengthy campaign."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Common in formal, administrative, legal, and academic contexts. Used to assign something to a category ('this falls under criminal law') or to place it within someone's responsibility ('this falls under your remit'). More formal than 'fall into'.

Commonly used with

category heading jurisdiction authority remit umbrella scrutiny

Forms

Base
fall under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
falls under
he/she/it
Past simple
fell under
yesterday
Past participle
fallen under
have + pp
-ing form
falling under
continuous

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Synonyms

come under fall into be classified as be categorized as belong to fall within

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