feudalism

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈfjuːdəlɪzəm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈfjudəlˌɪzəm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(fyo̅o̅d′l iz′əm)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
feu•dal•ism /ˈfyudəlˌɪzəm/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. World Historythe political, military, and social system of the Middle Ages in Western Europe, based on the work done by peasants for a landowner who gives protection in return.
feu•dal•is•tic, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
feu•dal•ism  (fyo̅o̅d′l iz′əm),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. World Historythe feudal system, or its principles and practices.
  • feudal1 + -ism 1830–40
feu′dal•ist, n. 
feu′dal•is′tic, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
feudalism /ˈfjuːdəˌlɪzəm/ n
  1. Also called: feudal 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
ˈfeudalist n ˌfeudalˈistic adj
'feudalism' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
feudal - Japan - revolution - William I - feudality - invest - late

Forum discussions with the word(s) "feudalism" in the title:


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