There are too many definitions of what a state is, but James Wilford Garner's is the most palatable

because it
includes every aspect of a state. He defined the state as a collection of people that are more or less numerous,
occupy a certain region continuously, are autonomous from outside interference, and have a recognized
government. The majority of the population shows habitual obedience. Although scholars disagree on how the
state should be conceptualized, they agree on its characteristics.