territorial

American  

[ter-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] / ˌtɛr ɪˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr- /

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 British  

/ 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 British  

/ ˌtɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəl /

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of territorial

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

Example Sentences

Still, he denies feeling territorial in any way about the singer.

From Los Angeles Times

Hitler claimed that a slice of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland was his last territorial demand in Europe.

From BBC

The Taliban's defence ministry later posted on X condemning the attacks as a "blatant violation of Afghanistan's territorial integrity", adding that they were a "clear breach of international law".

From BBC

But Stupak says any territorial gains will strengthen the Ukrainian leader's position at the negotiating table.

From BBC

China has competing territorial claims with Japan and the Philippines, while the Taiwan Strait is a major artery for global shipping.

From Barron's

Related Words

• provincial