feudal system

[ fyood-l sis-tuhm ]

noun
  1. the political, military, and social system in medieval Europe, based on the holding of lands in fief or fee and on the resulting relations between lord and vassal.

  2. a system of political, economic, and social organization similar to the system in the Middle Ages: The emancipation of the serfs in 1861 under Alexander II signaled the end of the feudal system in Russia.

Origin of feudal system

1
First recorded in 1770–80

Words Nearby feudal system

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use feudal system in a sentence