state within a state

noun

A powerful entity that is only partially controlled by the government, especially one that is nominally governmental itself; a deep state.

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Meanings

nounstate within a state (plural states within a state or states within states)

plural states within a state · plural states within states

  1. geopoliticsA powerful entity that is only partially controlled by the government, especially one that is nominally governmental itself; a deep state.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
deep stateshadow government

Translations

Polish państwo w państwie
  • państwo w państwieTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

state within a state. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/state%20within%20a%20state

MLA

“state within a state.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/state%20within%20a%20state. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “state within a state,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/state%20within%20a%20state.

Source: state within a state on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.