protectorate
pro·tec·to·rate
noun
1.
a state or territory partly controlled by (but not a possession of) a stronger state but autonomous in internal affairs; protectorates are established by treaty
Origin
From protector + -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, a system ruled by people of such office).
Phrases
- Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
- Somali Coast Protectorate
Related words
Broader terms
WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.