Definition of TERRITORY
TERRITORY Noun
Territory primarily functions as a noun, referring to a defined area or region of land, often demarcated or controlled by a particular group, organization, or entity. It encompasses geographical boundaries, political jurisdictions, or areas of influence.
Geographical Boundaries: Territory denotes a specific geographic area with recognized boundaries or borders, whether natural features such as rivers and mountains or human-made markers such as fences or walls. These boundaries delineate the extent of control, ownership, or jurisdiction over the land.
Example: The wolf pack marked its territory by urinating along the perimeter to signal ownership and deter intruders.
Political Jurisdictions: In political contexts, territory refers to a defined area under the jurisdiction and governance of a sovereign state, nation, or administrative division. It may include cities, states, provinces, or countries with their respective governments and legal systems.
Example: The dispute over the Kashmir territory has been a longstanding source of conflict between India and Pakistan.
Areas of Influence: Beyond physical boundaries, territory can also represent areas of influence, control, or dominance exerted by individuals, groups, or organizations. This influence may extend beyond geographical confines and encompass economic, cultural, or ideological domains.
Example: The tech giant expanded its market territory by acquiring smaller companies and integrating their products into its ecosystem.
As a noun, territory encompasses geographical boundaries, political jurisdictions, and areas of influence. Whether referring to physical land, political domains, or spheres of control, the concept of territory plays a crucial role in defining boundaries, governance, and power dynamics in various contexts.
Examples of TERRITORY in a sentence
- The wolves marked their territory by urinating along the borders of their hunting grounds.
- The dispute over the border between the two countries escalated into a conflict over territory.
- The sales team was assigned a specific territory to cover, each member responsible for a different region.
- The gang claimed the abandoned warehouse as their territory, intimidating anyone who dared to trespass.
- The bird vigorously defended its nesting territory from intruders.
- The cat roamed freely within its home territory, exploring every nook and cranny.
- The expansion of the city’s limits encroached upon the native animals’ territory, leading to habitat loss.
- The explorer ventured into uncharted territory, eager to discover what lay beyond the known world.
Origin of TERRITORY
The term territory has its origins in Latin and Middle English. Here’s a breakdown of its etymology:
- Latin Origins: The word territory is derived from the Latin word “territorium,” which is formed from “terra,” meaning “land” or “earth.” In Latin, “territorium” referred to a tract of land under jurisdiction, often specifically delineated or marked out.
- Middle English Adoption: During the Middle Ages, the term territory was adopted into Middle English from Old French, where it retained its original Latin sense of a defined tract of land under control or jurisdiction.
- Semantic Evolution: Over time, the meaning of territory expanded to encompass various connotations related to land, including geographical regions, political jurisdictions, administrative divisions, or areas inhabited or controlled by a particular group, entity, or authority.
- Modern Usage: In contemporary English, “
- territory is commonly used to describe a defined area of land, water, or airspace that is under the control, jurisdiction, or occupation of a specific entity. It can refer to geographical regions, political boundaries, administrative divisions, or zones designated for specific purposes.
Overall, the etymology of territory underscores its origins in Latin and its evolution through Old French and Middle English, its association with defined tracts of land under control or jurisdiction, and its usage in contemporary English to denote geographical areas, political divisions, or controlled zones.
Synonyms
- Region
- Area
- Domain
- Realm
- Zone
- Province
- Jurisdiction
- Domain
Antonyms
- Boundary
- Border
- Limitation
- Exclusion
- No-man’s-land
- Frontier
- Demarcation
- Borderland
Related
- Sovereignty
- Land
- Domain
- Homeland
- Dominion
- Control
- Occupancy
- Jurisdiction
🌐 🇬🇧 TERRITORY in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Territorio |
| French 🇫🇷 | Territoire |
| German 🇩🇪 | Gebiet |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 领土 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 領土 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Territorio |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Território |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Gebied |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Territorium |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Territorium |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | Alue |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | Teritoriu |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Terytorium |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Terület |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Území |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Територия |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Територія |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Территория |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | Bölge |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Ərazi |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Տարածք |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | إِقلِيم |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | שֶׁטַח |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | علاقہ |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | قلمرو |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | इलाका |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | এলাকা |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | प्रदेश |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | భూభాగం |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | பிரதேசம் |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | પ્રદેશ |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಪ್ರಾಂತ್ಯ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ଅଞ୍ଚଳ |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | പ്രദേശം |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਖੇਤਰ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | භූමිය |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | क्षेत्र |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | နယ်မြေ |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | อาณาเขต |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Lãnh thổ |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | wilayah |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Wilayah |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Teritoryo |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 地域 |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 지역 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Daangaa |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Dhul |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | ክልል |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Eneo |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Agbègbè |
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