as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
Related Words
Relevance
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
Leveugle's father worked at the French Embassy, and Leveugle attended school in the Moroccan capital during the final years of the French protectorate, the official said.
—
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
This tiny Dutch protectorate in the Leeward Islands hosts no cruise ships.
—Betsy Andrews, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
When sovereignty is confiscated and freedom administered from the outside, when the terms of liberation are dictated, the result is not a democratic transition but a protectorate dressed up in the language of damage control.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
The city’s exotic mix of Arab, Berber, African, and European cultures—Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and French is still widely spoken—gives it a unique feel that’s typified by the ambience of the quietly opulent La Mamounia hotel.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
This tiny Dutch protectorate in the Leeward Islands hosts no cruise ships.
—Betsy Andrews, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
When sovereignty is confiscated and freedom administered from the outside, when the terms of liberation are dictated, the result is not a democratic transition but a protectorate dressed up in the language of damage control.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
The city’s exotic mix of Arab, Berber, African, and European cultures—Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and French is still widely spoken—gives it a unique feel that’s typified by the ambience of the quietly opulent La Mamounia hotel.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
-
The highly anticipated adaptation of Rebecca Yarros' bestselling romantasy novel will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
Negotiations over Gaza’s future have also stalled, with Israeli forces controlling more than half of the territory and continuing to carry out deadly attacks.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Mayor's stance on class-size requirements Mamdani's budget also slows down the timeline for getting classroom sizes down to a state mandate while the city works to hire 1,000 new teachers, costing $122 million.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
The union alleged that the state abandoned bargaining over the issue and plans to unilaterally impose the four-day mandate.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
More engineers introduce additional dependencies, longer review cycles and inconsistent development patterns.—
Prashanthi Kolluru,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Why This Market Evolution Matters In practical terms, biomanufacturing can reduce dependency on volatile crop yields, seasonal constraints and the capital expenditures associated with large cultivation footprints.—
Thomas Andersen,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
