- [countable, uncountable] land that is under the control of a particular country or political leader
- enemy/disputed/foreign territory
- occupied territories
- They have refused to allow UN troops to be stationed in their territory.
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra Examples- The plane was shot down while overflying enemy territory.
- The soldiers strayed into hostile territory.
- The territory had been controlled by Azerbaijan for many years.
- a town in British-occupied territory
- former French territories
- Their incursion into foreign territory is a clear act of aggression.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- vast
- new
- former
- …
- hold
- annex
- capture
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [countable, uncountable] an area that one person, group, animal, etc. considers as their own and defends against others who try to enter it
- Blackbirds will defend their territory against intruders.
- She seems to regard that end of the office as her territory.
- Each of these gangs has its own territory.
Extra Examples- The male establishes a territory and attracts a female.
- The explorers set off to conquer new territories.
- The territory was never densely settled.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- breeding
- nesting
- defend
- patrol
- protect
- …
- [countable, usually singular] an area of activity, especially one that is familiar/unfamiliar or somebody's particular responsibility
- This type of work is uncharted territory for us.
- Legal problems are Andy's territory (= he deals with them).
Extra Examples- The writer is back on home territory with his latest novel.
- Tired of writing detective novels, she began to explore new territory.
- The parties have been staking out their territory on education.
- [countable, uncountable] an area of a town, country, etc. that somebody has responsibility for in their work or another activity
- Our representatives cover a very large territory.
- [uncountable] a particular type of land
- unexplored territory
- (also Territory)[countable] a country or an area that is part of the US, Australia, Canada or India but is not a state or province
- Guam and American Samoa are US territories.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin territorium, from terra ‘land’. The word originally denoted the district surrounding and under the jurisdiction of a town or city, specifically a Roman or provincial city.
Idioms
See territory in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee territory in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishcome/go with the territory
- to be a normal and accepted part of a particular job, situation, etc.
- She has to work late most days, but in her kind of job that goes with the territory.
on neutral territory/ground
- in a place that has no connection with either of the people or sides who are meeting and so does not give an advantage to either of them
- We decided to meet on neutral territory.
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territory