1. a political entity that exists within or under a larger state
Usage: political science

Examples

• The province functions as a substate within the federal system.
• Regional governments often act as substates with limited autonomy.
• The treaty recognized the substate’s right to self-governance.
• Each substate maintains its own local laws and regulations.
• The federal constitution defines the powers of each substate.
• Substates may have different cultural and linguistic identities.