territorialism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal
Quick answer
What does “territorialism” mean?
The policy or practice of claiming, controlling, or defending a territory.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The policy or practice of claiming, controlling, or defending a territory.
The attitude or behavior characterized by aggressive defense of one's own domain, whether in geopolitics, organizational structures, or personal space.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically in formal and academic contexts.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties when describing obstructive behavior within organizations.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British academic writing on politics and animal behavior.
Grammar
How to Use “territorialism” in a Sentence
[Subject]'s territorialismterritorialism of [Entity/Group]accusations of territorialismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “territorialism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ministry was accused of territorialising its budgetary controls.
American English
- The VP territorialized every new project that came through the door.
adverb
British English
- He acted territorialistically, refusing to share any client data.
American English
- She guarded her sources territorialistically.
adjective
British English
- His territorial behaviour over the shared laboratory equipment caused friction.
American English
- The team's territorial attitude prevented useful cross-departmental collaboration.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to departments or managers hoarding information, resources, or authority, hindering overall company goals.
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, sociology, and animal behavior studies.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used humorously to describe someone overly protective of their desk or kitchen.
Technical
In ecology/zoology: the behaviour by which an animal defends a territory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “territorialism”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “territorialism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “territorialism”
- Confusing 'territorialism' with 'territoriality'. The latter is the state or fact of having territory, without the negative policy connotation.
- Misspelling as 'terratorialism'.
- Using in informal contexts where 'being possessive' or 'staking a claim' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern usage, especially in political, business, and social contexts, it almost always carries a negative connotation of excessive or aggressive control. In neutral biological contexts, 'territoriality' is preferred.
'Expansionism' focuses on acquiring new territory. 'Territorialism' emphasizes the control and defense of territory, whether already held or newly acquired. Expansionism is a subset of territorialistic behaviour.
Yes, metaphorically. It describes a person who is overly possessive or defensive about their physical space, responsibilities, or domain of influence (e.g., 'his territorialism over the project budget').
Yes, 'territorial' is the common adjective. The derived adverb is rarely used ('territorialistically'). The verb is 'territorialize' (BE) / 'territorialize' (AE).
The policy or practice of claiming, controlling, or defending a territory.
Territorialism is usually formal in register.
Territorialism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌter.ɪˈtɔː.ri.ə.lɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌter.ɪˈtɔːr.i.ə.lɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A classic case of territorialism”
- “Drawing lines in the sand”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Terror' + 'Tory' + 'Realism' -> The 'terror' some 'Tories' (a political group historically associated with land/empire) feel about losing 'real' land is territorialism.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAND IS POWER, BOUNDARIES ARE WALLS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'territorialism' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?