territory

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

/ ˈtɛr ɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

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See synonyms for: territory / territories on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ter·ri·to·ries.

any tract of land; region or district.

the land and waters belonging to or under the jurisdiction of a state, sovereign, etc.

any separate tract of land belonging to a state.

(often initial capital letter)Government.

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.
some similar district elsewhere, as in Canada and Australia.

a field or sphere of action, thought, etc.; domain or province of something.

the region or district assigned to a representative, agent, or the like, as for making sales.

the area that an animal defends against intruders, especially of the same species.

OTHER WORDS FOR territory

2 domain, dominion, sovereignty.

See synonyms for territory on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of territory

1400–50; late Middle English <Latin territōrium land round a town, district, equivalent to terr(a) land + -i--i- + -tōrium-tory²

OTHER WORDS FROM territory

sub·ter·ri·to·ry, noun, plural sub·ter·ri·to·ries.

Words nearby territory

territorialism, territoriality, territorialize, territorial waters, Territorian, territory, territory wool, terroir, terror, terrorism, terrorist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use territory in a sentence

We understand this is kind of new territory for many governments and companies.
Why kids need special protection from AI’s influence|Karen Hao|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Tech stocks have risen so far and fast in the past year, that even as they recently shrugged off a record-fast dive into correction territory, many on the Street have been positing this may be another tech bubble, akin to 2000.
3 ways tech stocks resemble the 2000 bubble—and one way they don’t|Anne Sraders|September 16, 2020|Fortune
The Nasdaq is roughly a half-percent away from returning to correction territory.
The Nasdaq is again on the precipice of correction territory. Have investors lost faith in Big Tech?|Bernhard Warner|September 11, 2020|Fortune
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed US financial data into extreme territory.
Three charts that show the US economy is going extreme|Dan Kopf|September 3, 2020|Quartz

They may cut across roads and highways to get to the different parts of their territory.
Are coyotes moving into your neighborhood?|Kathryn Hulick|September 3, 2020|Science News For Students
“Altamirano has always been a disputed territory,” said Father Javier.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When they invade new territory, populations are low, and the queen has limited mate options.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But there is a messy middle territory between demonization and idealization.
The 2014 Novel of the Year|Nathaniel Rich|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"We live on enormous territory, our eyes have different shapes, we believe in different religions," she said.
Rebranding The Land of Mongol Warriors & Ivan The Terrible|Anna Nemtsova|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Assad-affiliated Christian militias skirt around the territory of rival groups aligned with the YPG.
In One Corner of Syria, Christmas Spirit Somehow Manages to Survive|Peter Schwartzstein|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If those jaspers flash any part of the roll in the Territory before snowfall, I'll get them.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Thus four thousand Indians at most roam through, rather than occupy, these vast stretches of inland territory and sea-shore.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
The goods manager was not aggressive, and it was sometimes thought that Mathieson inclined to encroach upon his territory.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Poindexter and Cobb had now come back into the territory that was commanded by Colonel Guitar.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Their territory extended 400 miles on the Atlantic coast, and "from the Atlantic westward to the South sea."
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for territory (1 of 2)

territory

/ (ˈtɛrɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun plural -ries

any tract of land; district

the geographical domain under the jurisdiction of a political unit, esp of a sovereign state

the district for which an agent, etc, is responsiblea salesman's territory

an area inhabited and defended by an individual animal or a breeding group of animals

an area of knowledgescience isn't my territory

(in football, hockey, etc) the area defended by a team

(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

(often capital) a protectorate or other dependency of a country

Word Origin for territory

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

British Dictionary definitions for territory (2 of 2)

Territory

/ (ˈtɛrɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun

the Territory Australian See Northern Territory

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for territory

territory

[ tĕr′ĭ-tôr′ē ]

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 Idioms and Phrases with territory

territory

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

territory

OTHER WORDS FOR territory

Origin of territory

OTHER WORDS FROM territory

Words nearby territory

Words related to territory

How to use territory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for territory (1 of 2)

Word Origin for territory

British Dictionary definitions for territory (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for territory

Other Idioms and Phrases with territory