1. the office or jurisdiction of a caliph
2. the territory ruled by a caliph

Examples

• The Abbasid caliphate was centered in Baghdad.
• He studied the history of the Ottoman caliphate.
• The caliphate expanded rapidly in the 7th century.
• Many Muslims looked to the caliphate for religious guidance.
• The last caliphate was abolished in 1924.
• Scholars debate the legitimacy of various caliphate claims.