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

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

When asked if Laos is at risk of becoming a vassal state, Mr Menon said "that ship has sailed".

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2023

Territorial empires are tightly controlled but costly to maintain; hegemonic empires are inexpensive to maintain, because the original local rulers incur the costs of administration, but the loose tie between master and vassal encourages rebellion.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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

Toranaga gathers his vassals in Edo to certify his big decision.

From New York Times ● Apr. 9, 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

Instead, in the by-now familiar hegemonic pattern, they tried to force the rulers of the vanquished state to become their vassals.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• servant