# feudal

/ˈfjudəɫ/ (US) · /fjˈuːdəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/feudal
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

relating to a social system from the Middle Ages where people worked for a lord in exchange for land and protection. It describes a society with very strict levels of power.

For teachers: relating to the social, political, and economic system of medieval Europe based on the holding of land in exchange for service and loyalty. Often used to describe rigid hierarchical structures or outdated social systems.

## Examples

- The king controlled the land under the feudal system.
- Historians study how feudal obligations shaped the daily lives of peasants and knights during the twelfth century.
- While the formal legal structures of the feudal era have long since vanished, some critics argue that modern corporate hierarchies mirror those ancient power dynamics in unsettling ways.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before nouns like 'system', 'society', or 'lord'.

---

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.