territorialism

noun

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Noncollaboration and territorialism breed divisiveness and often result in painful and detrimental outcomes. —John Daugherty, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 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

Accounts of bullying for Birds and territorialism over Limes are showing up across the internet, complete with reports of break-ins and shakedowns. —Anna-sofia Lesiv, The Seattle Times, 10 July 2018

The less kindly purpose, though valuable in its own right, is to signal to Bro that any territorialism around their couple time is coming from inside his house!! —Carolyn Hax, idahostatesman, 9 Jan. 2018

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Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1