territorial

[ter-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-]

adjective

1. of or relating to territory or land.

2. of, pertaining to, associated with, or restricted to a particular territory or district; local.

3. pertaining or belonging to the territory of a state or ruler.

4. (of an animal) characterized by territoriality; defending an area against intruders, especially of the same species.

5. Often Territorial of or relating to a territory of the United States.

6. Military.,  Territorial, organized on a local basis for home defense.

   the British Territorial Army.

noun

1. Territorial, a member of the British Territorial Army.

2. a soldier in a territorial army.

territorial

¹

/ ˌtɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a territory or territories

2. restricted to or owned by a particular territory

   the Indian territorial waters

3. local or regional

4. pertaining to a territorial army, providing a reserve of trained men for use in emergency

Territorial

²

/ ˌtɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. a member of a territorial army, esp the British Army's Territorial and Volunteer Reserve

Other Word Forms

• territorially adverb
• nonterritorial adjective
• nonterritorially adverb
• preterritorial adjective
• quasi-territorial adjective
• quasi-territorially adverb
• subterritorial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of territorial¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Late Latin territōriāli; territory, -al ¹

Example Sentences

In all three of these precise and cleanly bounded exceptions, the crucial point was essentially territorial.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Article 4 brings the defensive alliance together for consultation when a member's "territorial integrity, political independence or security… is threatened".

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Last year the European Union sanctioned him for "supporting actions and policies that undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."

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On Friday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said "China respects Afghanistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty", adding that "the future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of Afghan people".

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After hours under Putin’s sway, he came away talking not about what Russia would do for peace but what territorial concessions Ukraine would make.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• provincial