Territory \Ter"ri*to*ry\, n.; pl. Territories. [L. territorium, from terra the earth: cf. F. territoire. See Terrace.]

1. A large extent or tract of land; a region; a country; a district.

He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him -- towns, and rural works between. --Milton.

2. The extent of land belonging to, or under the dominion of, a prince, state, or other form of government; often, a tract of land lying at a distance from the parent country or from the seat of government; as, the territory of a State; the territories of the East India Company.

3. 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. In Canada, a similarly organized portion of the country not yet formed into a Province.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)