territorialism

American  

[ter-i-tawr-ee-uh-liz-uhm, -tohr-] / ˌtɛr ɪˈtɔr i əˌlɪz əm, -ˈtoʊr- /

noun

1. a principle or system that gives predominance to the landed classes.

2. Also called territorial system.  a theory of church policy according to which the supreme ecclesiastical authority is vested in the civil power.

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territorialism British  

/ ˌtɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəlɪzəm /

noun

1. a social system under which the predominant force in the state is the landed class

2. a former Protestant theory that the civil government has the right to determine the religious beliefs of the subjects of a state

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Other Word Forms

• territorialist noun

Etymology

Origin of territorialism

First recorded in 1870–75; territorial + -ism

Example Sentences

He talks about movies not with a know-it-all territorialism but rather an inclusive camaraderie.

From Los Angeles Times

While some might feel a sense of territorialism over their creation, as a veteran of the blogging world, Wilson acknowledges that’s not how things work in the recipe sphere.

From Washington Post

Bobby Kim, the Asian American co-owner of streetwear brand the Hundreds, remembers a run-in while surfing in Santa Monica that escalated from territorialism to racism.

From Los Angeles Times

Nevertheless, by showing how wars have advanced in lockstep with civilization, ever since they first really took off 10,000 years ago with the birth of farming and thus territorialism, MacMillan challenges his claim that there is a “civilizing process.”

From Washington Post

Even if you’re not usually big on nature shows, try “Meerkat Manor,” less a strict documentary than a juicy tale of power, primacy, territorialism, brutality, exile and family drama.

From New York Times