# feud

/ˈfjud/ (US) · /fjˈuːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/feud
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. long-standing hostility

noun · CEFR B2

a bitter argument or fight between two groups that lasts for a very long time.

For teachers: a state of long-standing mutual hostility, typically between families or clans, often involving retaliatory acts.

- The two families have been involved in a bitter feud over land for generations.
- The historical feud between the two clans was finally settled through a diplomatic marriage that united their commercial interests.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'start', 'settle', or 'end'.

### 2. professional wrestling

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a fake or planned rivalry between two performers in professional wrestling.

For teachers: a scripted rivalry between wrestlers used to create drama and interest for the audience.

- The fans loved the feud between the champion and his former partner.
- The promotion's ratings spiked during the six-month feud, culminating in a high-stakes match at the annual pay-per-view event.

### 3. feudal estate

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

land given to a person by a lord in exchange for work or military service in the Middle Ages.

For teachers: an estate of land granted by a lord to a vassal on condition of homage and service.

- The knight was granted a feud by the king after the successful battle.
- Under the medieval legal system, the holder of the feud was required to provide forty days of military service annually to his superior lord.

### 4. to be in a fight

verb · CEFR B2

to be involved in a long and angry argument with someone.

For teachers: to carry on a prolonged and bitter quarrel or conflict.

- The two famous singers have been feuding on social media for months.
- The two departments have been feuding over the budget allocation since the start of the fiscal year, stalling several key projects.

Usage: Intransitive verb; usually takes the preposition 'with' or 'over'.

## Examples

- The two families have been in a feud for decades.
- What started as a small disagreement over a property line escalated into a bitter family feud that lasted generations.
- Historians often point to the long-standing feud between the rival factions as the primary catalyst for the eventual collapse of the regional government during the late nineteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.