Noun
client state (plural client states)
A state that is economically, politically and/or militarily dependent on another, more powerful state. Originally, the realm of a client king of Rome.
Synonym: client
I'm for an independent, strong Israel that is not a client state and not a reliant state. Rand Paul
A state can be said to be a neo-colonialist or client state if it is independent de jure and dependent de facto. Kwame Nkrumah
A state can be said to be a neo-colonialist or client state if it is independent de jure and dependent de facto. It is a state where political power lies in the conservative forces of the former colony and where economic power remains under the control of international finance capital. Kwame Nkrumah