territoriality

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe fact or legal status of being a territory.
2. countableuncountablebiologyThe pattern of behaviour in animals that defines and defends a territory.
3. countableuncountableA pattern of human behaviour characterised by defence of a particular territory or area of interest.

   These criticisms had a whiff of territoriality about them.

   1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 99

In a sentence

These criticisms had a whiff of territoriality about them.

1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 99

Where it comes from

From territorial + -ity.