territorial

1 of 2

adjective

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

3

a

: nearby, local

b

: serving outlying areas : regional

territorially

ˌter-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

territorial

2 of 2

noun

: a member of a territorial military unit

Examples of territorial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Since late 2020, People’s Liberation Army aircraft have flown through Taiwan’s air defense identification zone—a buffer area outside its territorial airspace—on a near-daily basis. —David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024

Instead, China is likely to keep up military and other pressure on Taiwan, as well as pressing its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea. —Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

Noun

Between them, the army, air assault forces, marine corps, territorials and national guard have formed scores of new brigades, each with up to 2,000 troops and hundreds of vehicles. —David Axe, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

The Ukrainian force is a mix of battalions from the army, the separate air assault forces and the territorials. —David Axe, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing territorial

• inter-territorial
• territorial court
• territorial dispute
• territorial waters

Kids Definition

territorial

adjective

ter·​ri·​to·​ri·​al

ˌter-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əl,

-ˈtȯr-

1

: of or relating to a territory

territorial claims

2

: organized chiefly for territorial defense

a territorial army

3

: showing or involving territoriality

territorial birds

territorial noun

territorially

-ē-ə-lē

adverb