territory
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
an area of land that is controlled by a specific country or government.
a geographic area under the jurisdiction of a specific state or governing entity.
Simple“The two countries have been fighting over this small piece of territory for decades.”
In context“The disputed territory remains a point of intense diplomatic friction, with both nations claiming historical rights to the mineral-rich borderlands.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a specific region of a country that has its own government but fewer powers than a state or province.
an administrative subdivision of a country that lacks the full sovereign status of a state or province, such as those in Canada or Australia.
Simple“He moved from the city to the Northern Territory to work on a cattle station.”
In context“Unlike the provinces, the Canadian territories derive their mandates from federal statutes rather than the constitution.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
an area that an animal lives in and defends against other animals.
an area occupied and defended by an animal or group of animals against others of the same species.
Simple“The male tiger marks his territory to warn other tigers to stay away.”
In context“Wolves are highly territorial creatures, often engaging in aggressive displays to protect their hunting grounds from rival packs.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the specific area that a salesperson or worker is responsible for.
a geographic area assigned to a specific individual, such as a sales representative, for professional responsibility.
Simple“Her sales territory covers the entire southwest region of the country.”
In context“After the merger, the sales team had to reassign territories to ensure that no two representatives were competing for the same clients.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
the part of the field that a team or player controls during a game.
the portion of a playing field or board over which a participant or team exercises control or defensive priority.
Simple“The home team spent most of the second half in their opponent's territory.”
In context“The tactical shift allowed the midfielders to push deep into enemy territory, creating multiple scoring opportunities in the final minutes.”
“The counteroffensive deprived Russia of almost all the territory it had gained in Dnipropetrovsk since entering that region in June 2025, and pushed it back over the regional borders of Donetsk and Zaporizhia.”
“More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the territory, excluding East Jerusalem, among some three million Palestinians.”