protectorate

noun

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pro·tec·tor·ate | \ prə-ˈtek-t(ə-)rət

Definition of protectorate

1a : government by a protector

b capitalized : the government of England (1653–59) under the Cromwells

c : 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 one

b : the dependent political unit or territory in such a relationship

Examples of protectorate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The short but brutal conflict has proven conclusively that Armenia cannot win militarily, and that therefore ethnic Armenians must accept either governance by Azerbaijan or the protectorate of Russia. — Ivan Sascha Sheehan, National Review, "Russia’s New Territory," 23 Dec. 2020 After two more years of military service in Palestine, then a British protectorate, she was discharged as an army lieutenant and enrolled at Oxford University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1951. — Jonathan Kandell, New York Times, "Jan Morris, Celebrated Writer of Place and History, Is Dead at 94," 20 Nov. 2020 But Macron said France wouldn't impose sanctions on anyone in its former protectorate — for now. — Angela Charlton, Star Tribune, "Macron 'ashamed' of Lebanon's political leaders amid crisis," 27 Sep. 2020 His Monday night arrival in the Lebanese capital marked his second visit in the space of weeks and coincided with the 100th anniversary of the country’s formation as a French colonial protectorate. — Washington Post, "The limits of Macron’s influence in Lebanon," 2 Sep. 2020 Because Egypt had become a Roman protectorate during the elder Ptolemy’s rule, Romans had a say in who would be ruling Egypt. — Alamy/ Aci, National Geographic, "Egypt's last pharaoh was the 'love child' of Caesar and Cleopatra," 15 Oct. 2020 In the 1970s, fueled by oil revenue and its Western ties as a former British protectorate, Kuwait was a leader in the Arab world on many fronts. — Washington Post, "Kuwait’s emir al-Sabah, influential voice in the Middle East, dies at 91," 29 Sep. 2020 Lebanon, a former French protectorate, is mired in the country's worst economic crisis in its modern history. — NBC News, "Lebanon's prime minister-designate steps down in blow to French plan," 26 Sep. 2020 French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Lebanon and called on the country's leaders to commit to major reforms to seek a way out of a web of crises France has warned could drive its former protectorate to a state of total collapse. — Washington Post, "Macron back to Beirut with new calls for Lebanon reform," 1 Sep. 2020

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.