Meanings
plural pakhanates
- Another term for mafia state.
In a similar vein, political scientist Andrei Piontkovsky argues that the Putin regime is a "pakhanate"—a coinage derived from pakhan, Russian underworld slang for a gang boss—intent on surrounding itself with a protective ring of copacetic "godfather states" to protect itself against change.
2014, Cathy Young, Putin's New Old Russia, Reason
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Russianпахан“don, mob boss, kingpin”
- Englishpakhanate
Blending of Russian пахан (paxan, “don, mob boss, kingpin”) and khanate.
More words from Russian
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
pakhanate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pakhanate
“pakhanate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pakhanate. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pakhanate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pakhanate.
Source: pakhanate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.