territorialism

1 of 2

noun (1)

ter·​ri·​to·​ri·​al·​ism ˌter-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: landlordism

2

: the principle established in 1555 requiring the inhabitants of a territory of the Holy Roman Empire to conform to the religion of their ruler or to emigrate

territorialist

ˌter-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-list 

noun

territorialist

2 of 2

noun (2)

ter·​ri·​to·​ri·​al·​ist -lə̇st 

plural -s

: one that practices or advocates territorialism

Examples of territorialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Competitive landscapes reward comparison and territorialism. — Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

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. — Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2023

Siloes, fiefdoms and territorialism can be killers of organizational performance that results from disconnected activities and incoherent customer experiences. — John Ellett, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022

Issues such as Hawaiian sovereignty, territorialism and the islands’ historical and present-day issues with mainland decisions are deftly addressed in the Koa Kāne novels, but McGraw presents them in a way that doesn’t feel preachy or appropriative. — Seth Combs Writer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2022

This territorialism, says Gehrt, could be a factor that will limit their spread. — National Geographic, 29 Nov. 2019

The leaders also see growing territorialism and climate change as the top risks to their businesses from overseas. — Sangeeta Tanwar, Quartz India, 11 July 2019

Experts say the turkey’s extreme territorialism, especially in males, programs them to assert their dominance — whether over another turkey or a human. — Aditi Shrikant, BostonGlobe.com, 13 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

territorial entry 1 + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for territorialism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism
• astigmatism