protectorate

noun

Definition of protectoratenext
as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of protectorate Morocco was under French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and the two countries remain closely connected. — David Hickey, NBC news, 9 July 2026 Critics will claim that trading Canadian or Danish oversight for an American protectorate merely swaps one master for another. — Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Pashinyan has implemented the complete transformation of Armenia’s position in the region and the world, going from a de facto protectorate of Russia to one bordering on hostility. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026 With very few exceptions, an end was declared, not only to empires, but also to city-states, duchies, principalities, emirates, sultanates, caliphates, khanates, agencies, princely states, colonies, suzerains, dependencies, mandates, tributaries, condominia and protectorates. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
  1. territory
  2. mandate
  3. dependency
Noun
  • The murder of two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank is the jumping-off point for a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory, a move that would further test the nation’s fraying relationship with the United States.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees that re-emerged this week underscore obstacles to ending the war.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of territory
Noun
  • This, despite Lin meeting his mandates to curb spending and make movies that resonated with subscribers.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In other words, as our report notes, government mandates to seek truth are often driven by ideological belief systems, particularly on political issues.
    — Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandate
Noun
  • The story also touches on the complex relationships between men, namely the dynamics of dominance, dependency, and betrayal.
    — Maria Papadouris, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2026
  • What are those more nuanced conversations about drug dependency going to look like going forward?
    — Max Gao, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dependency

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protectorate
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Cite this Entry

“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on protectorate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protectorate

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