fealty

American  

[fee-uhl-tee] / ˈfi əl ti /

noun

• fealties
  plural

1. History/Historical.

   1. fidelity to a lord.

   2. the obligation or the engagement to be faithful to a lord, usually sworn to by a vassal.

2. fidelity; faithfulness.

   Synonyms:

   devotion, loyalty

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fealty British  

/ ˈfiːəltɪ /

noun

1. (in feudal society) the loyalty sworn to one's lord on becoming his vassal See homage

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonfealty
  noun
• unfealty
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fealties
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fealty

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English feute, feaute, fealtye, from Anglo-French, Old French feauté, fealté, from Latin fidēlitāt- (stem of fidēlitās ) fidelity; internal -au-, -al- from feal, reshaping (by substitution of -al- -al ¹ ) of fe(d)eil, from Latin fidēlis

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Explanation

The noun fealty is another way of saying "loyalty" or "faithfulness." Your sister will allow you to join the secret club meetings in her treehouse only if you first promise fealty to the other members. Some school kids pledge their fealty, or allegiance, to the United States of America every morning in homeroom. But if you think fealty sounds like a word King Arthur would use, you're right: It's really an outdated term that primarily describes a vassal's sworn allegiance to a feudal lord. Fealty, like the word fidelity derives from the Latin root "fidelitas."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fealty fealties

That fealty was enough for Trump to nominate Blanche to the position permanently.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

A more substantive critique is that by emphasizing Odysseus’ feelings of guilt rather than his simple fealty to the gods, Mr. Nolan imposes an anachronistic Christian morality on the ancient world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

It did not explicitly invoke the unitary executive theory, but its fealty to the doctrine was clear.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

A totalitarian leader demands unconditional fealty from everyone around him, but considers himself to owe nothing in return.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

Those who had changed their allegiance during the battle needed only to swear fealty to Joffrey, but the ones who had fought for Stannis until the bitter end were compelled to speak.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

A Scorpio’s deepest fealties can only lie with beings they perceive as powerful as they are — or more so, complementing that inescapable desire to subjugate that which makes them feel powerless.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2024

If Lydia was to be his—though already she seemed supremely his in all the shy fealties of the moment—not a petal of the flower of love should be lost to her.

From The Prisoner by Alice Brown

The doors were shut, with the infant inside; the lights flew up; glasses clinked, merry healths were pledged, new fealties sworn by look alone.

From V. V.'s Eyes by Henry Sydnor Harrison

Feudalism itself, with its curious net-work of fealties and obligations running through the fabric of society in every direction, was by no means purely disintegrative in its tendencies.

From American Political Ideas Viewed from the Standpoint of Universal History by John Fiske

And also, the fees, fealties, and seruices which belonged to him in the countie of Amund, and in the vallie called Vale Dosta; and in like maner, the towne of Castellone.

From Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (5 of 12) Henrie the Second by Raphael Holinshed

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Related Words

• faithfulness
• loyalty

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