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.

synonym: associated state.

Roget 737a: government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority; authority etc. 737; master etc. 745; direction etc. 693.    [nations] national government, nation, state, country, nation-state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic; kingdom, principality.    [subdivisions of nations] state government [Lat.], state; shire [Brit.]; province [Can.]; county [Ire.]; canton [Switz.]; territory [Austral.]; duchy, archduchy, archdukedom^†; woiwodshaft; commonwealth; region etc. 181; property etc. 780.    [smaller subdivisions] county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement [Fr.], mofussil^†, commune; wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth^†, soke^†, tithing; ward, precinct, bailiwick.    command, empire, sway, rule; dominion, domination; sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty; lordship, headship^†; chiefdom^†; seigniory, seigniority^†.    rule, sway, command, control, administer; govern etc. (direct) 693; lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne; sway the scepter, wield the scepter; wear the crown.    state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus [Lat.].    [person in the governing authority] judicature etc. 965; cabinet etc. (council) 696; seat of government, seat of authority; headquarters.    [Acquisition of authority] accession; installation etc. 755; politics etc. 737.1. reign, regime, dynasty; directorship, dictatorship; protectorate, protectorship; caliphate, pashalic^†, electorate; presidency, presidentship^†; administration; proconsul, consulship; prefecture; seneschalship; magistrature^†, magistracy.    monarchy; kinghood^†, kingship; royalty, regality; aristarchy^†, aristocracy; oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy; commonwealth; dominion; heteronomy; republic, republicanism; socialism; collectivism; mob law, mobocracy^†, ochlocracy^†; vox populi, imperium in imperio [Lat.]; bureaucracy; beadledom^†, bumbledom^†; stratocracy; military power, military government, junta; feodality^†, feudal system, feudalism.    thearchy^†, theocracy, dinarchy^†; duarchy^†, triarchy, heterarchy^†; duumvirate; triumvirate; autocracy, autonomy; limited monarchy; constitutional government, constitutional monarchy; home rule; representative government; monocracy^†, pantisocracy^†.    gynarchy^†, gynocracy^†, gynaeocracy^†; petticoat government.    [government functions] legislature, judiciary, administration.    [Government agencies and institutions] office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet; senate, house of representatives, parliament; council etc. 696; courts, supreme court; [U.S. national government departments], state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury; Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI; Central Intelligence Agency, CIA; National Institutes of Health, NIH; Postal Service, Post Office; Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.    [national government officials] president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister; senator, representatative, president pro tem [Lat.], speaker of the house; department head, section head, section chief; federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice; treasurer, secretary of the treasury; director of the FBI.    [state government officials] governor, state cabinet member; state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman.    ... show more

Roget 780: property, possession, suum cuique [Lat.], meum et tuum [Lat.].    ownership, proprietorship, lordship; seignority^†; empire etc. (dominion) 737.    interest, stake, estate, right, title, claim, demand, holding; tenure etc. (possession) 777; vested interest, contingent interest, beneficial interest, equitable interest; use, trust, benefit; legal estate, equitable estate; seizin [Law], seisin [Law].    absolute interest, paramount estate, freehold; fee tail, fee simple; estate in fee, estate in tail, estate tail; estate in tail male, estate in tail female, estate in tail general.    limitation, term, lease, settlement, strict settlement, particular estate; estate for life, estate for years, estate pur autre vie [Fr.]; remainder, reversion, expectancy, possibility.    dower, dowry, jointure^†, appanage, inheritance, heritage, patrimony, alimony; legacy etc. (gift) 784; Falcidian law, paternal estate, thirds.    assets, belongings, means, resources, circumstances; wealth etc. 803; money etc. 800; what one is worth, what one will cut up for; estate and effects.    landed property, landed real estate property; realty; land, lands; tenements; hereditaments; corporeal hereditaments, incorporeal hereditaments; acres; ground etc. (earth) 342; acquest^†, messuage, toft^†.    territory, state, kingdom, principality, realm, empire, protectorate, sphere of influence.    manor, honor, domain, demesne; farm, plantation, hacienda; allodium etc. (free) 748^†; fief, fieff^†, feoff^†, feud, zemindary^†, dependency; arado^†, merestead^†, ranch.    free lease-holds, copy lease-holds; folkland^†; chattels real; fixtures, plant, heirloom; easement; right of common, right of user.    personal property, personal estate, personal effects; personalty, chattels, goods, effects, movables; stock, stock in trade; things, traps, rattletraps, paraphernalia; equipage etc. 633.    parcels, appurtenances.    impedimenta; luggage, baggage; bag and baggage; pelf; cargo, lading.    rent roll; income etc. (receipts) 810; maul and wedges [U.S.].    patent, copyright; chose in action; credit etc. 805; debt etc. 806.    ... show more

Dutch: protectoraat
Polish: protektorat