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
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
See all Example Sentences for feudalism 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
See all Example Sentences for feudalism
Dictionary Entries Near feudalism
Cite this Entry
“Feudalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feudalism. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share