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 2010, a maritime territorial dispute with Tokyo prompted Beijing to suspend shipments of the minerals to Japan -- the first major incident highlighting geopolitical ramifications of China's control over the sector.

Read more on Barron's

Every nation must strive to preserve three basic elements of its existence—sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

However, no details have emerged on how to bridge the considerable divide between Moscow and Kyiv over territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Read more on BBC

It called on countries to "refrain from the threat or use of force ... against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state".

Read more on Barron's

Public opinion in Ukraine has remained firmly opposed to territorial concessions throughout the war.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• provincial