feudalism

[ fyood-l-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. the feudal system, or its principles and practices.

feudalism

/ ˈfjuːdəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. See fief, vassalage
   Also calledfeudal system the legal and social system that evolved in W Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries, in which vassals were protected and maintained by their lords, usually through the granting of fiefs, and were required to serve under them in war See also vassalage fief
2. any social system or society, such as medieval Japan or Ptolemaic Egypt, that resembles medieval European feudalism

feudalism

1. A system of obligations that bound lords and their subjects in Europe during much of the Middle Ages . In theory, the king owned all or most of the land and gave it to his leading nobles in return for their loyalty and military service. The nobles in turn held land that peasants , including serfs , were allowed to farm in return for the peasants' labor and a portion of their produce. Under feudalism, people were born with a permanent position in society. ( See fief and vassal .)

Notes

Today, the word feudal is sometimes used as a general term for a set of social relationships that seems unprogressive or out of step with modern society.

Derived Forms

• ˌfeudalˈistic, adjective
• ˈfeudalist, noun

Other Words From

• feudal·ist noun
• feudal·istic adjective
• anti·feudal·ism noun
• anti·feudal·ist noun
• anti·feudal·istic adjective
• pre·feudal·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of feudalism¹

First recorded in 1830–40; feudal ( def ) + -ism

Example Sentences

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

Then she and Red got into an argument about Putin, the Russian character and when Tsarism and feudalism truly ended in Russia.

From The Daily Beast

The economy in California and elsewhere likely will determine the viability of neo-feudalism.

From The Daily Beast

Yet except for occasional rumbling from the left, neo-feudalism likely represents the future.

From The Daily Beast

The spirit of feudalism and of the old chivalry had all but departed, but had left a vacuum which was not yet supplied.

From Project Gutenberg

If it were a republic to-morrow, it would be a monster in legislation—half-jacobinism, half-feudalism.

From Project Gutenberg

Though feudalism as a form of government is no longer fashionable, it still survives in spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

In the act has been seen the formal acceptance and date of the introduction of feudalism, but it has a very different meaning.

From Project Gutenberg

The system (if such a word can be applied at all) was in fact a bad form of feudalism without its advantages.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bondage
• captivity
• enslavement
• serfdom
• servitude
• subjugation