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
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Japan's sovereignty extends to the airspace over its territorial sea that measures 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from its coastline, says the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which lays down a regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
After an initial round of expansion following Russia’s wider invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian ground forces—the army, air assault forces, marine corps, national guard and territorials—could deploy a hundred brigades, each with around 2,000 people.
—David Axe, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for territorial
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Adjective
That pledge—widely regarded as a foundational element of post-Cold War security—was based on a simple idea: if Ukraine relinquished its nuclear weapons, the West would defend its territorial integrity.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Japan's sovereignty extends to the airspace over its territorial sea that measures 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) from its coastline, says the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which lays down a regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
Arranging their first meeting indoors could make your older dog territorial, and scare your puppy off.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
After an initial round of expansion following Russia’s wider invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian ground forces—the army, air assault forces, marine corps, national guard and territorials—could deploy a hundred brigades, each with around 2,000 people.
—David Axe, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for territorial
Cite this Entry
“Territorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/territorial. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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