feudalism

noun

feu·​dal·​ism ˈfyü-də-ˌli-zəm 

1

: the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal (see vassal sense 1) with all land held in fee (see fee sense 1) and as chief characteristics homage, the service of tenants under arms and in court, wardship (see wardship sense 1), and forfeiture (see forfeiture sense 1)

2

: any of various political or social systems similar to medieval feudalism

feudalist

ˈfyü-də-list 

noun

feudalistic

ˌfyü-də-ˈli-stik 

adjective

Examples of feudalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The divine right of kings, feudalism, human bondage. —Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

The action takes place during the Boshin War, which ended centuries of feudalism under the isolationist Tokugawa shogunate and triggered Japan’s rapid transformation into an economic and military powerhouse. —Richard Kuipers, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

Under feudalism, a landowner would grant fiefs to vassals, who would farm the land and give a portion of the yield to the landowner. —Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

Yanis Varoufakis: Profit drives capitalism, rent drove feudalism. —Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

feudalism

noun

feu·​dal·​ism ˈfyüd-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm 

: a system of political organization (as in Europe during the Middle Ages) in which a vassal served a lord and received protection and land in return

feudalistic

ˌfyüd-ᵊl-ˈis-tik 

adjective