vassal

American  

[vas-uhl] / ˈvæs əl /

noun

1. (in the feudal system) a person granted the use of land, in return for rendering homage, fealty, and usually military service or its equivalent to a lord or other superior; feudal tenant.

2. a person holding some similar relation to a superior; a subject, subordinate, follower, or retainer.

3. a servant or slave.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a vassal.

2. having the status or position of a vassal.

vassal British  

/ ˈvæsəl /

noun

1. (in feudal society) a man who entered into a personal relationship with a lord to whom he paid homage and fealty in return for protection and often a fief. A great vassal was in vassalage to a king and a rear vassal to a great vassal

2. 1. a person, nation, etc, in a subordinate, suppliant, or dependent position relative to another

   2. ( as modifier )

      vassal status

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adjective

1. of or relating to a vassal

vassal Cultural  

1. Under feudalism, a subordinate who placed himself in service to a lord in return for the lord's protection.

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Other Word Forms

• nonvassal
  noun
• subvassal
  noun
• undervassal
  noun
• vassal-less
  adjective
• vassalless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of vassal

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin vassallus, equivalent to vass ( us ) servant (< Celtic; compare Welsh gwas young man, Irish foss servant) + -allus noun suffix

Explanation

If this were Medieval Europe, you would probably be a vassal — like most everyone else. Vassals were people who worked the vast plots of land that were held by lords, who though much fewer in number, held all the wealth and power. In days of yore, vassals pledged devotion to feudal lords, who were the landowners, in exchange for protection and use of the land—-called a fief. Use vassal when referring to a servant, or anyone wholly dependent on another, or to describe a place that is controlled by one that is more powerful. For example, during World War II, Poland was a vassal of Germany.

Example Sentences

According to the polling expert, Mr Lee, "a growing portion of the public now believes China wants to turn South Korea into some kind of vassal state".

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2025

The sole survivor of a disgraced noble family, Mariko’s past looms over her commitment to her duties as Toranaga’s vassal, a wife and a devout Catholic.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2024

Fealty in medieval Europe was an oath of fidelity in which the vassal pledged not to harm his lord or damage to his property.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Shaipov said Muscovy inherited its political culture not from Europe, but from the Mongol Empire of which it had long been a vassal.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2023

Only in 1428 did Itzacoatl, a newly selected tlatoani, ally with two other small vassal states to overthrow their mutual overlords.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• servant