protectorate

noun

Definition of protectoratenext
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 Morocco was under French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and the two countries remain closely connected. — David Hickey, NBC news, 9 July 2026 Critics will claim that trading Canadian or Danish oversight for an American protectorate merely swaps one master for another. — Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Pashinyan has implemented the complete transformation of Armenia’s position in the region and the world, going from a de facto protectorate of Russia to one bordering on hostility. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026 With very few exceptions, an end was declared, not only to empires, but also to city-states, duchies, principalities, emirates, sultanates, caliphates, khanates, agencies, princely states, colonies, suzerains, dependencies, mandates, tributaries, condominia and protectorates. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
  1. territory
  2. mandate
  3. dependency
Noun
  • The murder of two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank is the jumping-off point for a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory, a move that would further test the nation’s fraying relationship with the United States.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees that re-emerged this week underscore obstacles to ending the war.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of territory
Noun
  • The innovation mandate Jejurikar has witnessed many ups and downs at the consumer products behemoth.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Though armed with a strong mandate for change stemming from a convincing election victory, a new government will still encounter a myriad of hurdles along the way.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandate
Noun
  • While cost remains extremely important, the exec said brands now evaluate a much wider risk equation that includes lead time, flexibility, traceability, regulatory compliance, geopolitical exposure and dependency on individual production regions.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But providing ongoing financial support can create a cycle of dependency that can delay important milestones and threaten the parents' financial security.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of dependency

Browse Nearby Words

protector
protectorate
protectorates
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on protectorate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protectorate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wraith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All