feudal

[ fyood-l ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like the feudal system, or its political, military, social, and economic structure.
2. of or relating to the Middle Ages.
3. of, relating to, or of the nature of a fief or fee:

   a feudal estate.

4. of or relating to the holding of land in a fief or fee.

feudal

¹

/ ˈfjuːdəl /

adjective

1. of, resembling, relating to, or characteristic of feudalism or its institutions
2. See allodial
   of, characteristic of, or relating to a fief Compare allodial
3. derogatory.
   old-fashioned, reactionary, etc

feudal

²

/ ˈfjuːdəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a feud or quarrel

Other Words From

• feudal·ly adverb
• anti·feudal adjective
• non·feudal adjective
• non·feudal·ly adverb
• pre·feudal adjective
• quasi-feudal adjective
• quasi-feudal·ly adverb
• un·feudal adjective
• un·feudal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of feudal¹

From the Medieval Latin word feudālis, dating back to 1605–15. See feud ², -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of feudal¹

C17: from Medieval Latin feudālis , from feudum feud ²

Example Sentences

In the Middle Ages in England, they were used in part to get around a feudal form of taxation as well as rules requiring the first born son inherit a father’s property.

From ProPublica

Looking like feuding feudal lords and ladies isn’t going to help their chances.

From Time

A sprawling open-world epic set in feudal Japan, Jin Sakai’s quest to retake his homeland from the invading Mongol army told a compelling story with cinematic visual flair.

From Popular-Science

Meanwhile, neighboring Japan had adopted not only the West’s technology but also its governing methods, transforming a feudal society into a modern industrial state with a formidable military.

From MIT Technology Review

On Sark, horses and carts and feudal traditions still remain strong.

From The Daily Beast

That Silicon Valley is moving away from capitalism toward feudalism, with tech CEOs as feudal lords, and this is a good thing.

From The Daily Beast

But they felt discriminated against by the local political bosses and feudal lords who ran the city.

From The Daily Beast

Of the Last Samurai he said, “They make it look like Japan would not have made it out of the feudal period without Tom Cruise.”

From The Daily Beast

If that is the case, the new feudal system could shape the evolution of the American class structure for decades to come.

From The Daily Beast

The object of these scarli is to manifest the popular exultation at the annihilation of feudal tyranny.

From Project Gutenberg

It indeed brought us near to the spirit and customs of feudal times as we wandered about in the gloom of the deserted apartments.

From Project Gutenberg

The castle was built in 1385 and appears to havePg 285 been intended more as a palatial residence than a feudal fortress.

From Project Gutenberg

The castle, rude and ruinous, shows the work of many centuries, and was really a great fortress rather than a feudal residence.

From Project Gutenberg

And the scene continues, weirdly dramatic, like some old romantic tale of feudal days.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antique
• archaic
• Gothic
• primitive