vassal

American  

[vas-uhl] / ˈvæs əl /

noun

• vassals
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• vassals
  plural

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

See Examples For:

vassal vassals

“Our customers have declined to become vassal states of the language labs. And the market is now shifting dramatically underfoot.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

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

Sawai was magnificent for the way she deftly handled her character’s many facets — vassal, translator, warrior, lover, avenger.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2024

“In southern India, the threat of being reduced to a vassal state is a serious problem,” said Neelakantan, the political analyst.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2024

“Very well,” he says impatiently, not sounding in the least like a vassal about to swear to his lady.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

I’ll note that the demon is a more honest and fair negotiator than his vassals, who occasionally cheat and are punished in exactly the way you’re hoping to see.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

Because of our past forays, these knights have long been vassals without lords.

From New York Times ● Jun. 18, 2024

“No one has the right to tear the realm apart,” he tells his assembled vassals as he agrees to surrender to the Council.

From New York Times ● Apr. 2, 2024

“But if you read between the lines, that’s what it means—these were vassals, probably of Tikal directly and Teotihuacán indirectly.”

From National Geographic ● Jan. 26, 2024

He plunged away into the deep sea swell, and she grew big with Pelias and Neleus, powerful vassals, in their time, of Zeus.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

Related Words

• servant