statelet

American

[steyt-lit] / ˈsteɪt lɪt /

noun

a small state, especially one resulting from the dissolution of a larger state.

statelet British

/ ˈsteɪtlɪt /

noun

a small state

the Gaza Strip statelet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of statelet

First recorded in 1850–55; state ( def. ) + -let ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The candidate of the dismissed president of the Bosnian Serb statelet Milorad Dodik's party has won a snap vote to replace him, official preliminary results showed late Sunday.

From Barron's • Nov. 23, 2025

You would become a citizen of the franchised cyber statelet of your choice.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2024

Ethnic Armenian authorities in Karabakh said on Thursday they were dissolving the breakaway statelet they had defended for three decades.

From Reuters • Sep. 28, 2023

Croatian forces achieved their military goals in just three days, ousting the rebel Serbs’ unrecognized statelet, the Republic of Serbian Krajina.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

Because of its two feuding tribes, the K.R.G. — a statelet the size of West Virginia — now has essentially two of everything: two leaders, two governments, two armies.

From New York Times • Aug. 10, 2016

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023