Tĕr'ri-to-ry, n.

(110), n. [Lat. territorium, from terra, the earth; Fr. territoire, Pr. territori, Sp., Pg., & It. territorio.] 1. The extent or compass of land within the bounds, or belonging to the jurisdiction, of any state, city, or other body. Linger not in my territories. Shak. They erected a house within their own territory. Hayward. Arts and sciences took their rise and flourished only in those small territories where the people were free. Swift.

2. A tract of land belonging to, or under the dominion of, a prince or state, lying at a distance from the parent country or from the seat of government; as, the territories of the East India Company.
3. Especially, in the United States, a portion of the country not included within the limits of any State, and not yet admitted as a State into the Union, but organized with a separate legislature, under a territorial governor and other officers appointed by the President and Senate of the United States.