Definition of protectorate
1a : government by a protectorb capitalized : the government of England (1653–59) under the Cromwellsc : the rank, office, or period of rule of a protector
2a : the relationship of superior authority assumed by one power or state over a dependent oneb : the dependent political unit or territory in such a relationship
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of protectorate from the Web
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The oil was discovered in the 1950s, when the seven former British protectorates that now make up the Emirates were inhabited mainly by nomadic Bedouin tribes and the economy ran on fishing, date farming and camel herding.
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The oil was discovered in the 1950s, when the seven former British protectorates that now make up the Emirates were inhabited mainly by nomadic Bedouin tribes and the economy ran on fishing, date-farming and camel-herding.
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In 1919, while Morocco was still a French protectorate, management of the land was transferred to the ministry from the tribal authorities, with the idea of discouraging migration from rural areas to the cities.
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The Brits, meanwhile, have an interest in keeping the peace, since Bechuanaland is a British protectorate and South Africa is helping England with its postwar debt.
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And the problem for Attlee’s government is that Bechuanaland, a British protectorate, abuts South Africa, which is setting up the gruesome machinery of apartheid.
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The moves suddenly transformed Western Sahara, a former Spanish protectorate riven by a war for independence after it was seized by Morocco in 1975, from a sensitive, percolating issue into something more pressing.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'protectorate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of protectorate
1662
PROTECTORATE Defined for English Language Learners
protectorate
playDefinition of protectorate for English Language Learners
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: a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
Learn More about protectorate
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Spanish Central: Translation of protectorate Nglish: Translation of protectorate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of protectorate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protectorate
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