# Territory

/ˈtɛɹɪˌtɔɹi/ (US) · /tˈɛɹɪtəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/territory
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. land under control

noun · CEFR B2

an area of land that is controlled by a specific country or government.

For teachers: a geographic area under the jurisdiction of a specific state or governing entity.

- The two countries have been fighting over this small piece of territory for decades.
- The disputed territory remains a point of intense diplomatic friction, with both nations claiming historical rights to the mineral-rich borderlands.

### 2. administrative division

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a specific region of a country that has its own government but fewer powers than a state or province.

For teachers: an administrative subdivision of a country that lacks the full sovereign status of a state or province, such as those in Canada or Australia.

- He moved from the city to the Northern Territory to work on a cattle station.
- Unlike the provinces, the Canadian territories derive their mandates from federal statutes rather than the constitution.

### 3. animal habitat

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

an area that an animal lives in and defends against other animals.

For teachers: an area occupied and defended by an animal or group of animals against others of the same species.

- The male tiger marks his territory to warn other tigers to stay away.
- Wolves are highly territorial creatures, often engaging in aggressive displays to protect their hunting grounds from rival packs.

### 4. work area

noun · CEFR B2

the specific area that a salesperson or worker is responsible for.

For teachers: a geographic area assigned to a specific individual, such as a sales representative, for professional responsibility.

- Her sales territory covers the entire southwest region of the country.
- After the merger, the sales team had to reassign territories to ensure that no two representatives were competing for the same clients.

### 6. sports field

noun · CEFR B2

the part of the field that a team or player controls during a game.

For teachers: the portion of a playing field or board over which a participant or team exercises control or defensive priority.

- The home team spent most of the second half in their opponent's territory.
- The tactical shift allowed the midfielders to push deep into enemy territory, creating multiple scoring opportunities in the final minutes.

## Examples

- The birds defend their territory from other species during the spring.
- The disputed territory along the border has been a source of tension between the two nations for decades.
- While the marketing department usually handles social media, the new digital strategy falls squarely into the IT department's territory, leading to significant internal friction over budget allocation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.