client state

noun

: a country that is economically, politically, or militarily dependent on another country

Examples of client state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The hunter education marketplace remains lucrative because once a vendor acquires a client state agency, their customers come along essentially for free. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 31 July 2024 In other words, Britain is a client state, albeit a senior one, with certain privileges. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 June 2024 By turning Abiy’s Ethiopia into a client state, however, the UAE has helped feed the prime minister’s worst instincts. Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024 During the Cold War, Washington and Moscow provided both internal and external security assistance to their client states, and few if any countries maintained security relationships with both superpowers. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Foreign Affairs, 15 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for client state 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'client state.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of client state was in 1803

Dictionary Entries Near client state

Cite this Entry

“Client state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/client%20state. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on client state

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