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
But signs of what the future may hold in the CAR, one of the organization’s first client states and its laboratory on the continent, are beginning to emerge in Bangui.
—
Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023
That policy, which may have pleased America’s client states in the region at the time, was a product of post-Cold War hubris on our part.
—Andrew Exum, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023
On Sunday, Putin also met the Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, who has effectively turned his country into a Russian client state.
—Sergii Mukaieliants, Washington Post, 27 July 2023
The deal was worked out through an unlikely intermediary: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whose country has become all but a client state of Russia.
—Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 25 June 2023
In turn, client states have used Pegasus against not only opposition groups, journalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) but also geopolitical rivals.
—Ronald J. Deibert, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2022
Post-war, Romania became a Soviet client state.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 20 Mar. 2023
Communist Vietnam, fearful of rising Chinese power, is open to American overtures, while democratic Pakistan, a Cold War ally of Washington’s that is now heavily linked to China through Belt and Road investments, has effectively become a client state of Beijing.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2022
Some American officials worry that China’s goal in the Solomons is to create a client state, securing deepwater ports and satellite communication sites.
—Damien Cave Matthew Abbott, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023
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Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023
That policy, which may have pleased America’s client states in the region at the time, was a product of post-Cold War hubris on our part.
—Andrew Exum, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023
On Sunday, Putin also met the Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, who has effectively turned his country into a Russian client state.
—Sergii Mukaieliants, Washington Post, 27 July 2023
The deal was worked out through an unlikely intermediary: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whose country has become all but a client state of Russia.
—Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 25 June 2023
In turn, client states have used Pegasus against not only opposition groups, journalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) but also geopolitical rivals.
—Ronald J. Deibert, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2022
Post-war, Romania became a Soviet client state.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 20 Mar. 2023
Communist Vietnam, fearful of rising Chinese power, is open to American overtures, while democratic Pakistan, a Cold War ally of Washington’s that is now heavily linked to China through Belt and Road investments, has effectively become a client state of Beijing.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2022
Some American officials worry that China’s goal in the Solomons is to create a client state, securing deepwater ports and satellite communication sites.
—Damien Cave Matthew Abbott, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'client state.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1803, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near client state
Cite this Entry
“Client state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/client%20state. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
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