Meaning & use
buffer state
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A small country located between two larger, often rival powers, helping to prevent direct conflict between them.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a buffer state' or 'buffer states'.
Patterns
- act as a buffer state
- serve as a buffer state
During the Cold War, Austria acted as a buffer state between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
The small kingdom served as a buffer state, keeping the two empires from fighting directly.
Historically, buffer states often had to balance the demands of their powerful neighbors.
Word forms
| plural | buffer states |
|---|
Common combinations
- act as a buffer state
- The country acted as a buffer state between the two rival alliances.
- serve as a buffer state
- For decades, the region served as a buffer state, preventing direct confrontation.
- create a buffer state
- The peace treaty created a buffer state to separate the warring parties.
Synonyms and how they differ
- buffer zone
- A buffer zone is an area, not a country, and is often demilitarized; a buffer state is a sovereign nation.
- satellite state
- A satellite state is controlled by a larger power, while a buffer state may be independent and serves to separate rivals.
Commonly confused: buffer state or buffer zone?
buffer state vs buffer zone
A buffer zone is a neutral area between two territories; a buffer state is an independent country that separates larger powers.
Practice
During the Cold War, Finland was often described as a ______ between the Soviet Union and the West.
Choose one answer.
A 'buffer state' is a country that separates rival powers. 'Buffer zone' refers to an area, not a country, and 'neutral zone' is also an area. 'Border state' is not a standard term for this concept.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “buffer state”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.