protectorate

noun

Definition of protectoratenext
as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one

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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 The island had been a protectorate of the United States since the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. — USA Today, 6 May 2026 After the British protectorate ended in 1971, these states came together to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). — Anatol Lieven, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026 The British went on to claim regions of the coast and declare them as protectorates. — Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026 Japan’s victory and the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) secured its undisputed supremacy in Korea, after which Japan imposed a protectorate treaty later that year. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
  1. territory
  2. mandate
  3. dependency
Noun
  • Their ability to control possession and territory, while not always entertaining, is impressive.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The fans did get a rise when Kansas City's Jac Caglianone smoked one into Ryan Howard territory in the third deck in right field.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of territory
Noun
  • The pickup in inflation didn’t go unnoticed at the Fed, which has a legal mandate to insure price stability.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Oceanside has made better progress toward its state housing mandates.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
Definition of mandate
Noun
  • Model debt arises from dependencies in integrations, prompts, data pipelines and workflows, which reduce agility, slow down change and increase costs.
    — Signe Jancis, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Their project infrastructure and financing are designed around lifecycles as long as 20–30 years, and their operational ecosystem includes dependencies on supply chains for parts covered under warranty.
    — Amit Chaturvedy, Fortune, 8 July 2026
Definition of dependency

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protector
protectorate
protectorates
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Cite this Entry

“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on protectorate

Nglish: Translation of protectorate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protectorate

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