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
Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
The right-wing leader has shown more interest in boosting trade with the British than lambasting their territorial claims, and once even praised the leader who deployed troops to eject Argentine forces.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
On Monday, the government of the Philippines lodged a protest with Chinese counterparts after a dangerous escalation in the South China Sea, where China’s maritime expansionism is butting against the parallel territorial claims of its weaker neighbors.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Despite military and territorial setbacks, ISIS-K has been expanding its ambitions and operations, experts told NPR.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 24 Mar. 2024
The shoal, occupied by Philippine navy personnel since the late 1990s, has recently become the backdrop for an increasingly tense territorial standoff with the Chinese coast guard.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2024
The Philippines intentionally grounded an old warship at the shoal in 1999, as a means of bolstering its territorial claims and has kept a small contingent of military there ever since.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 Mar. 2024
The guest list included four former prime ministers — Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell, as well as 12 current provincial premiers or territorial leaders.
—Rob Gillies, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024
Ukraine also surrendered its nuclear arsenal in exchange for guarantees, including from Russia, that the country’s territorial sovereignty would be respected.
—David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
N. Gregory Mankiw, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2017
Adjective
Both sides wanted to make the territorial conflict between them a thing of the past, and by 2006, their 2,615-mile border had finally been fully delimited.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
The right-wing leader has shown more interest in boosting trade with the British than lambasting their territorial claims, and once even praised the leader who deployed troops to eject Argentine forces.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
On Monday, the government of the Philippines lodged a protest with Chinese counterparts after a dangerous escalation in the South China Sea, where China’s maritime expansionism is butting against the parallel territorial claims of its weaker neighbors.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Despite military and territorial setbacks, ISIS-K has been expanding its ambitions and operations, experts told NPR.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 24 Mar. 2024
The shoal, occupied by Philippine navy personnel since the late 1990s, has recently become the backdrop for an increasingly tense territorial standoff with the Chinese coast guard.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2024
The Philippines intentionally grounded an old warship at the shoal in 1999, as a means of bolstering its territorial claims and has kept a small contingent of military there ever since.
—Reuters, NBC News, 25 Mar. 2024
The guest list included four former prime ministers — Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell, as well as 12 current provincial premiers or territorial leaders.
—Rob Gillies, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024
Ukraine also surrendered its nuclear arsenal in exchange for guarantees, including from Russia, that the country’s territorial sovereignty would be respected.
—David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
TERRITORIAL Most nations aim to impose taxes on economic activity that takes place within their borders.
—N. Gregory Mankiw, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'territorial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near territorial
Cite this Entry
“Territorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/territorial. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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