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Glite Dictionary
territoriality

territoriality

3 7.9
Animals claim and defend an area as their own, often by marking it or making sounds
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛrɪˈtɔːriəlɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : territorialidad
  • The purpose of this study was to determine if territoriality or home-field advantage affected the peak performance of an individual athlete.
  • sense of territoriality
  • territoriality issues
  • concept of territoriality

I know hummingbirds can't really be narcissistic, but the territoriality, the aggression, it all feels familiar.

Examples

  • That's where the aggression and the territoriality come from.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Indeed, the relation between kinship and territoriality, which defines membership in the Teenek community, is also expressed linguistically.

    Academic text (2008)

  • "Some animals might attack them out of fear or territoriality.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Results suggested that territoriality does exist when using no-hitters as a measure of peak performance.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Once we were able to follow Bahati through her reproductive cycle, the function of female territoriality became evident.

    Academic text (1992)

  • I know hummingbirds can't really be narcissistic, but the territoriality, the aggression, it all feels familiar.

    DoctorRamani

  • Male lions exhibit territoriality by marking their territory with scent to warn off rivals.

  • The territoriality of the red fox becomes most apparent during the breeding season when males defend their areas fiercely.

  • Many species display territoriality to ensure access to food and mates, establishing boundaries that they actively protect.

Synonyms

territorialism
vsterritoriality
8.0

A habit of claiming and defending a place as yours

is the animal behavior form often about males defending a territory

How Territorial

territoriality
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Surface Forms

territoriality singular
territorialities plural

Morphology

territoriality = territorial (transparent) = territory + al + ity

The relation 'territory' -> 'territorial' is clear (noun + -al) but includes the orthographic change (y -> i) and a slightly abstract adjectival meaning that may confuse some learners.

Etymology

Territoriality comes from territory, which comes from the Latin terra meaning 'land' or 'earth'. So, territoriality is about claiming and protecting a particular area, like a dog guarding its yard or a bird defending its nest.