protectorate

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: prorectorate, protectoral, protectorates

Antonyms: prorectorate, protectoral, protectorates

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. {{lb|en|UK|historical}} Government by a [[protector]]; especially, {{w|The Protectorate}}: government of [[England]], [[Scotland]], and [[Ireland]] between 1653 and 1659 under the Lord Protector of the [[Commonwealth]] {{w|Oliver Cromwell}}, later his son {{w|Richard Cromwell}}.
2. {{lb|en|UK|historical}} The [[office]] or [[position]] of the Lord Protector of the [[Commonwealth]].
3. The [[authority]] assumed by a [[state]] over another state deemed [[inferior]] or [[dependent]], whereby the former protects the latter from [[invasion]] and shares in the [[management]] of its affairs but the protected state retains its nominal [[sovereignty]].
4. An [[autonomous]] state under [[protectorate]].
5. The [[office]] or [[position]] of [[protector]] (sense 5).

Proper noun

1. {{lb|en|historical}} The British state from 1653 to 1659, under {{w|Oliver Cromwell}} and then {{w|Richard Cromwell}}.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.