territorial
1 of 2adjective
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 2noun
: a member of a territorial military unit
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
The Birmingham Times, al, 4 Sep. 2022 David Lamfrom, vice president of regional programs at NPCA, recommends a 50-foot buffer around elephant seals and sea lions, whose males are territorial, and at least six feet between you and a venomous snake. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 June 2022 Because coyotes are territorial, and younger generations must move on to find their own hunting grounds, the species spread out, first throughout the West Coast and the Midwest, then the Northeast and Southeast. San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2022 Coyotes are territorial and stay with the members of their family group. Evan Casey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2022 Though hippos in the wild have a reputation for being territorial and can be dangerous to humans, Fiona is docile and sweet with her caregivers, something Wingate attributes to the fact that she was nursed, literally, from birth by humans. cleveland, 15 Feb. 2022 Has Derrick always been this territorial, or is his secretiveness something fairly recent? Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 6 Feb. 2022 Hippos are known to be territorial and dangerous, responsible for more human deaths on African safaris than any other animal. Dan Heching, PEOPLE.com, 27 Oct. 2021 Since males can be territorial, Frankie spent time with a couple of smaller females. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Oct. 2021 N. Gregory Mankiw, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2017 See More
Adjective
Often overlooked, Agee said, is the fact that people can be territorial about violence reduction. The Birmingham Times, al, 4 Sep. 2022 David Lamfrom, vice president of regional programs at NPCA, recommends a 50-foot buffer around elephant seals and sea lions, whose males are territorial, and at least six feet between you and a venomous snake. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 June 2022 Because coyotes are territorial, and younger generations must move on to find their own hunting grounds, the species spread out, first throughout the West Coast and the Midwest, then the Northeast and Southeast. San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2022 Coyotes are territorial and stay with the members of their family group. Evan Casey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2022 Though hippos in the wild have a reputation for being territorial and can be dangerous to humans, Fiona is docile and sweet with her caregivers, something Wingate attributes to the fact that she was nursed, literally, from birth by humans. cleveland, 15 Feb. 2022 Has Derrick always been this territorial, or is his secretiveness something fairly recent? Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 6 Feb. 2022 Hippos are known to be territorial and dangerous, responsible for more human deaths on African safaris than any other animal. Dan Heching, PEOPLE.com, 27 Oct. 2021 Since males can be territorial, Frankie spent time with a couple of smaller females. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Oct. 2021 Noun
TERRITORIAL Most nations aim to impose taxes on economic activity that takes place within their borders. N. Gregory Mankiw, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1625, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Noun
1907, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing territorial
Kids Definition
territorial
adjective
ter·ri·to·ri·al ˌter-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl
1
: of or relating to a territory
a territorial government
2
: displaying behavior associated with defending an animal's territory
My dog is very territorial.