A khanate or khaganate is a type of historic polity ruled by a khan, khagan, khatun, or khanum. Khanates were typically nomadic Turkic, Mongol and Tatar societies located on the Eurasian Steppe, politically equivalent in status to kinship-based chiefdoms and feudal monarchies. Khanates and khaganates were organised tribally, where leaders gained power on the support and loyalty of their warrior subjects, gaining tribute from subordinates as realm funding. In comparison to a khanate, a khaganate, the realm of a khagan, was a large nomadic state maintaining subjugation over numerous smaller khanates. The title of khagan, translating as "Khan of the Khans", roughly corresponds in status to that of an emperor.

ख़ानत तुर्की-मंगोल संस्कृति में किसी ऐसे राज्य को कहते हैं जिसपर किसी ख़ान की उपाधि वाले शासक का राज्य हो। इसकी तुलना हिन्दी के 'सल्तनत' शब्द से की जा सकती है जो किसी ऐसे राज्य को कहते हैं जहाँ 'सुलतान' का राज्य हो। इसी तरह 'बादशाहत' में 'बादशाह' का, 'रियासत' में किसी 'रईस' का और 'अमीरात' में किसी 'अमीर' का राज होता है। आधुनिक तुर्की भाषा में 'ख़ानत' को 'काग़ानलिक' (kağanlık) कहते हैं।