territory
noun
ter·ri·to·ry
ˈter-ə-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural territories
1
a
: a geographic area belonging to or under the jurisdiction of a governmental authority
b
: an administrative subdivision of a country
c
: a part of the U.S. not included within any state but organized with a separate legislature
d
: a geographic area (such as a colonial possession) dependent on an external government but having some degree of autonomy
2
a
: an indeterminate geographic area
b
: a field of knowledge or interest
3
a
: an assigned area
especially
: one in which a sales representative or distributor operates
b
: an area often including a nesting or denning site and a variable foraging range that is occupied and defended by an animal or group of animals
see also go with the territory
Examples of territory in a Sentence
Those mountains are in Mexican territory.
Guam is a U.S. territory.
The birds are busy establishing territories and building nests.
Male cats spray to mark territory.
The goal of the expedition is to map unexplored territory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Under the buy-back scheme, states and territories will be tasked with collecting the weapons and processing payments to individuals for surrendered firearms, while federal police will be responsible for destroying them.
—
Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
The ceasefire halted Israel's push to fully occupy all of Gaza and shelved plans by some far-right members of the cabinet to displace Palestinians outside the territory.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
President Daniel Noboa has pledged to fight criminal organizations that have expanded their operations in Ecuadorian territory in connection with international drug cartels.
—CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Its blend of bergamot, jasmine, vanilla, and incense wears warm and enveloping without tipping into powdery territory.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for territory
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
The ceasefire halted Israel's push to fully occupy all of Gaza and shelved plans by some far-right members of the cabinet to displace Palestinians outside the territory.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
President Daniel Noboa has pledged to fight criminal organizations that have expanded their operations in Ecuadorian territory in connection with international drug cartels.
—CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Its blend of bergamot, jasmine, vanilla, and incense wears warm and enveloping without tipping into powdery territory.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for territory
Cite this Entry
“Territory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/territory. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
territory
noun
ter·ri·to·ry
ˈter-ə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
plural territories
1
a
: a geographic area belonging to or under the control of a government
b
: a part of the U.S. not included within any state but having a separate governing body
2
a
: an assigned area
a sales representative's territory
b
: an area that is occupied and defended by an animal or group of animals
Legal Definition
territory
noun
ter·ri·to·ry
ˈter-ə-ˌtōr-ē
plural territories
1
: a geographical area belonging to or under the jurisdiction of a governmental authority
2
: a political subdivision of a country
3
: a part of the U.S. (as Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands) not included within any state but organized with a separate legislature compare trust territory
territorially
adverb
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