ter·ri·to·ri·al
ˌter-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 
1
a
: of or relating to a territory
territorial government
b
: of or relating to or organized chiefly for home defense
c
: of or relating to private property
2
a
: exhibiting or involving territoriality
territorial birds
b
: of or relating to an assigned or preempted area
territorial commanders
: a member of a territorial military unit
Examples of territorial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Helfand, Hartford Courant, 21 May 2025
Cases are reported by local, state and territorial health departments, and may not be exhaustive if someone doesn’t seek medical treatment and receive a diagnosis, the CDC notes.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
After an initial round of expansion following Russia’s wider invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian ground forces—the army, air assault forces, marine corps, national guard and territorials—could deploy a hundred brigades, each with around 2,000 people.
—David Axe, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for territorial
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.
Adjective
Where Trump has been consistent is in supporting Jewish territorial claims in Israel/Palestine.
—Robert Helfand, Hartford Courant, 21 May 2025
Cases are reported by local, state and territorial health departments, and may not be exhaustive if someone doesn’t seek medical treatment and receive a diagnosis, the CDC notes.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Noun
Arranging their first meeting indoors could make your older dog territorial, and scare your puppy off.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
After an initial round of expansion following Russia’s wider invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian ground forces—the army, air assault forces, marine corps, national guard and territorials—could deploy a hundred brigades, each with around 2,000 people.
—David Axe, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for territorial
Cite this Entry
“Territorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/territorial. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share