overseas territory
noun /ˌəʊvəsiːz ˈterətri/
/ˌəʊvərsiːz ˈterətɔːri/
- any of several small territories (mainly islands or groups of islands) which have a governor appointed by the British government. Examples include the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and St Helena. Britain is responsible for their defence and some other aspects of their government, for example, their police and Civil Service. British overseas territories used to be known as dependent territories or Crown Colonies.