Meaning & use
Suzerainty
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The dominion or authority of a suzerain, a state or ruler exercising political control over a dependent state that retains internal autonomy.
See it in a sentence
For centuries, the smaller kingdom paid tribute in exchange for protection under the empire's suzerainty.
Historians debate whether the treaty established outright colonization or merely a looser suzerainty.
A note on using this word
Suzerainty differs from direct rule in that the dependent state keeps its own government and internal affairs, owing only tribute, loyalty, or military support to the suzerain.
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