territory

Universal Words noun (plural territories) 1 [C,U] land that is under the control of a particular country or ruler: enemy / disputed / foreign territory * occupied territories * They have refused to allow UN troops to be stationed in their territory. 2 [C,U] an area that one person, group, animal, etc. considers as their own and defends against others who try to enter it: Mating blackbirds will defend their territory against intruders. * (figurative) This type of work is uncharted territory for us. * (figurative) Legal problems are Andy's territory (= he deals with them). * She seems to regard that end of the office as her territory. * Each of these gangs has its own territory. 3 [C,U] an area of a town, country, etc. that sb has responsibility for in their work or another activity: Our representatives cover a very large territory. 4 [U] a particular type of land: unexplored territory 5 (also Territory) [C] a country or an area that is part of the US, Australia or Canada but is not a state or PROVINCE: Guam and American Samoa are US territories. IDIOMS come / go with the territory to be a normal and accepted part of a particular job, situation, etc: You need sunshine to ripen grapes and in England unpredictability comes with the territory. moreatNEUTRALadj.