Words / B2

TER-uh-tree/ˈterətri/

Territory is land under a country’s or group’s control: disputed territory; on British territory. It is also a professional area (unfamiliar territory). Terrain is physical ground; land is everyday. Do not call a rented flat your territory in a legal essay. Animals mark territory — a biology sense.

Meaning

Land under the control of a country or group; also an area of knowledge or work.

Examples

• “The dispute is over fishing territory, not only trade.”
• “Statistics was unfamiliar territory for the history cohort, which is the metaphor.”

Good to know

disputed / sovereign territory; on someone’s territory. Physical ground: terrain. Metaphor: unfamiliar territory. Biology: animal territory. Not a private tenancy.

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