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turf war

British  

noun

  1. a dispute between criminals or gangs over the right to operate within a particular area

  2. any dispute in which one party seeks to obtain increased rights or influence

"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

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

The economy cabin is losing the turf war on airplanes.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 23, 2026

A turf war over the online home listings business has been brewing for a while.

From Barron's Jan. 1, 2026

Is a colossal turf war in the cards?

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 20, 2025

Several summers of simmering tension has, in the first days of 2025, exploded into a full-on turf war, sparking debate about Australian culture and beach etiquette.

From BBC Jan. 8, 2025

The goblin-dwarf turf war had flared up again, and every morning hordes of angry parents showed up demanding the release of their innocent offspring.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

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