territory

B2 Topic:Places & Geography

US /ˈtɛɹɪˌtɔɹi/ UK /ˈtɛɹɪt(ə)ɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #3315

Meanings

1

noun
An area of land controlled by a country or government.

The army advanced deep into enemy territory.
2

noun
An area that a person or organization is responsible for, especially in business.

Each salesperson covers a different territory across the region.
3

noun
An area of knowledge, interest, or experience.

Their questions covered a lot of territory.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an area of land controlled... soil

Word family

Forms territories

Derived forms territorialterritorialityterritorially

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

occupied territory
land controlled by an occupying military force

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

The map is not the territory

Simplified etymology

Territory entered English in the late Middle Ages and is based on Latin terra, “earth.” It originally meant the area surrounding a town and subject to that town’s laws.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English territorie, from Latin territōrium.

*ters- Proto-Indo-European territorie Middle English territōrium Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Places & Geography

External links

# territory

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɛɹɪˌtɔɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɛɹɪt(ə)ɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 3315

## Meanings
1. An area of land controlled by a country or government.
2. An area that a person or organization is responsible for, especially in business.
3. An area of knowledge, interest, or experience.

## Examples
- The army advanced deep into enemy territory.
- Each salesperson covers a different territory across the region.
- Their questions covered a lot of territory.

## Derived Forms
- territorial
- territoriality
- territorially

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ters-
- Root: territorie
- Root: territōrium

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English territorie, from Latin territōrium.

## AI Etymology
Territory is inherited from Middle English territorie, from Latin territōrium. In present-day use, it can mean an area of land controlled by a country or government, or an area that a person or organization is responsible for, especially in business. Derived formations include territorial, territoriality, territorially.

## Topics
- Places & Geography

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