extraterritorial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ter·​ri·​to·​ri·​al ˌek-strə-ˌter-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce extraterritorial (audio)
: existing or taking place outside the territorial limits of a jurisdiction

Examples of extraterritorial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two data centers are proposed in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026 Simply shifting corporate registration offshore does not place a company beyond China's extraterritorial control and regulatory reach if its technology, founders, or research ecosystem remain tied to the mainland. Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026 The resulting Treaty of Ganghwa (1876) opened Korean ports to Japanese trade, granted extraterritorial rights to Japanese citizens, and declared Korea an independent state in a move intended to sever its traditional ties to China and weaken its diplomatic protections. Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026 Inspiration is on a site outside of the jurisdictions of any city, in an extraterritorial jurisdiction, allowing the development to set its own standards instead of following a city’s code, Gigliotti said. Neal Franklin, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extraterritorial

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extraterritorial was in 1869

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extraterritorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extraterritorial. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

Legal Definition

extraterritorial

adjective
ex·​tra·​ter·​ri·​to·​ri·​al ˌek-strə-ˌter-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əl How to pronounce extraterritorial (audio)
: existing or taking place outside the territorial limits of a jurisdiction
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster