territory

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

noun

, plural ter·ri·to·ries.

1. any tract of land; region or district.
2. the land and waters belonging to or under the jurisdiction of a state, sovereign, etc.

   Synonyms: sovereignty, dominion, domain

3. any separate tract of land belonging to a state.
4. (often initial capital letter) Government.
   1. a region or district of the U.S. not admitted to the Union as a state but having its own legislature, with a governor and other officers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
   2. some similar district elsewhere, as in Canada and Australia.
5. a field or sphere of action, thought, etc.; domain or province of something.
6. the region or district assigned to a representative, agent, or the like, as for making sales.
7. the area that an animal defends against intruders, especially of the same species.

territory

¹

/ -trɪ; ˈtɛrɪtərɪ /

noun

1. any tract of land; district
2. the geographical domain under the jurisdiction of a political unit, esp of a sovereign state
3. the district for which an agent, etc, is responsible

   a salesman's territory

4. an area inhabited and defended by an individual animal or a breeding group of animals
5. an area of knowledge

   science isn't my territory

6. (in football, hockey, etc) the area defended by a team
7. often capital a region of a country, esp of a federal state, that enjoys less autonomy and a lower status than most constituent parts of the state
8. often capital a protectorate or other dependency of a country

Territory

²

/ -trɪ; ˈtɛrɪtərɪ /

noun

1. See Northern Territory
   the Territory
   the Territory See Northern Territory

territory

/ tĕr′ĭ-tôr′ē /

1. A geographic area occupied by a single animal, mating pair, or group. Animals usually defend their territory vigorously against intruders, especially of the same species, but the defense often takes the form of prominent, threatening displays rather than out-and-out fighting. Different animals mark off territory in different ways, as by leaving traces of their scent along the boundaries or, in the case of birds, modifying their calls to keep out intruders.

Other Words From

• sub·terri·tory noun plural subterritories

Word History and Origins

Origin of territory¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin territōrium “land around a town, district,” from terr(a) “land” + -i- -i- + -tōrium -tory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of territory¹

C15: from Latin territōrium land surrounding a town, from terra land

Idioms and Phrases

see come with the territory ; cover the field (territory) .

Example Sentences

“Altamirano has always been a disputed territory,” said Father Javier.

From The Daily Beast

When they invade new territory, populations are low, and the queen has limited mate options.

From The Daily Beast

But there is a messy middle territory between demonization and idealization.

From The Daily Beast

"We live on enormous territory, our eyes have different shapes, we believe in different religions," she said.

From The Daily Beast

Assad-affiliated Christian militias skirt around the territory of rival groups aligned with the YPG.

From The Daily Beast

If those jaspers flash any part of the roll in the Territory before snowfall, I'll get them.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus four thousand Indians at most roam through, rather than occupy, these vast stretches of inland territory and sea-shore.

From Project Gutenberg

The goods manager was not aggressive, and it was sometimes thought that Mathieson inclined to encroach upon his territory.

From Project Gutenberg

Poindexter and Cobb had now come back into the territory that was commanded by Colonel Guitar.

From Project Gutenberg

Their territory extended 400 miles on the Atlantic coast, and "from the Atlantic westward to the South sea."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• area
• colony
• country
• district
• enclave
• field
• land
• nation
• neighborhood
• province
• sector
• state
• street
• terrain
• zone