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

Phrases

go with the territory or come with the territory

: to be a natural or unavoidable aspect or accompaniment of a particular situation, position, or field

criticism goes with the territory in this job

Synonyms

• habitat
• home
• niche
• range

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

Of those, several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base. —Joseph Federman, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024

The comments come after Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones from its own territory at Israel on Saturday, an attack that Israel claims was largely beaten back by its sophisticated defenses and the help of allies in the region. —Michael Lee, Fox News, 14 Apr. 2024

Canada on Saturday became the latest nation to warn its citizens against any travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories amid growing threats of attacks on Israel. —Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024

That’s because of the staggered release dates in different territories. —Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2024

Virtually all of the Biden administration’s hopes and plans to end the war in Gaza — and move toward a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories — depend on first reaching a deal for a temporary cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages. —Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024

The Civil War-era law — which the state Supreme Court this week ruled was enforceable — was enacted at a time when women did not have the right to vote and before Arizona, then a territory, became a state. —Melissa Chan, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024

In the 18 years since Katrina, Louisiana’s southernmost territories had started to hollow out, steadily accelerating their quiet migration northward as Louisianans fled their coast. —Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024

The strong March helped the first quarter into positive territory too. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin territorium, literally, land around a town, from terra land — more at terrace entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing territory

• come with the territory
• dangerous ground/territory
• enemy territory
• go with the territory
• poach on someone's territory/turf
• trust territory
• uncharted territory/waters
• union territory
• virgin territory

Kids 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

territorial

ˌter-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

adjective

territorially adverb