feudalism

[ fyood-l-iz-uhm ]

noun

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

feudalism

/ ˈfjuːdəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. 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

• ˈfeudalist, noun
• ˌfeudalˈistic, adjective

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

A new book from Harvard scholar Keidrick Roy, “American Dark Age: Racial Feudalism and the Rise of Black Liberalism,” lays out their pioneering critique of the enduring power of feudalism on American thought, along with a coherent framework of liberal ideas shaped by their individual and collective lived experiences.

From Salon

Let’s start with their explanation: The abstract ideas of liberty were excellent, they argued, but contradicted by “racial feudalism.”

From Salon

How did that idea confront the claims of founders like Thomas Jefferson that they were getting rid of feudalism entirely?

From Salon

To be clear, “racial feudalism” is a term I’ve developed to describe how prominent Black liberals before the Civil War characterized slavery in the South and prejudice in the North.

From Salon

However, after declaring America's independence from England, Thomas Jefferson and other founders believed their legislative and political actions had already eliminated the remaining vestiges of European feudalism.

From Salon

Related Words

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