territorial

Everyday

1. Territorial means about land or an area that belongs to a country or person («territorial waters»). tree →
2. A territorial animal defends its own area and chases others away from it. tree →
3. A territorial person gets cross when others use what they think is theirs, like their seat or desk. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, robins, cats, dogs and many fish are territorial: they mark and defend a patch. In geography and the news, «territorial waters» are the sea near a country's coast that belongs to it, and «territorial disputes» are arguments between countries about land. In everyday life it describes someone guarding their space.

Examples

• Robins are very territorial and fight other robins. tree →
• Our cat is territorial about the garden. tree →
• The boat crossed into another country's territorial waters. tree →
• The two countries have a territorial dispute about an island. tree →
• My brother is territorial about his side of the bedroom. tree →
• Dogs bark at the gate because they are territorial. tree →
• In Australia, the Northern Territory is a territorial area, not a state. tree →

Note

Adjective from «territory». Stress: «terri-TOR-ee-ul». Being territorial is natural in animals, not a sign that the animal is bad.