client state
noun
: a country that is economically, politically, or militarily dependent on another country
Examples of client state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For more than 60 years, pre-revolutionary Cuba endured independence without sovereignty as an American client state.
—
Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Their client state of Syria is no more.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
Hamas and Hezbollah, which have enjoyed Iran’s support, have also been seriously debilitated and there is a new government in Syria that is no longer a client state of Iran.
—Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Above all, China fears that its unpredictable and often aggressive client state could spark a military conflict with South Korea and the United States, potentially dragging Beijing into a second Korean War.
—Shuxian Luo, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for client state
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.
Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Their client state of Syria is no more.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
Hamas and Hezbollah, which have enjoyed Iran’s support, have also been seriously debilitated and there is a new government in Syria that is no longer a client state of Iran.
—Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Above all, China fears that its unpredictable and often aggressive client state could spark a military conflict with South Korea and the United States, potentially dragging Beijing into a second Korean War.
—Shuxian Luo, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for client state
Cite this Entry
“Client state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/client%20state. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
