WordLens

feudal

1 of 1adjective
/ˈfjudl̩/
1

relating to a system where nobility hold power and peasants work for their lords

  • The feudal system in medieval Europe consisted of lords granting land to vassals in exchange for military service.
  • Feudal relationships were characterized by obligations of loyalty and protection between lords and vassals.
  • The feudal lord granted land to his vassals, who in turn provided military support and labor.
  • The feudal hierarchy placed peasants at the bottom, working the land in exchange for protection from their lord.
  • Feudal societies were often marked by hierarchical structures and a lack of social mobility.
Synonyms:
feudalistic
2

so outdated that it seem irrelevant or inappropriate in a contemporary setting

  • The company’s feudal management style allows no flexibility or employee input.
  • His feudal attitude toward gender roles belongs to another century.
  • The landlord’s feudal rules for tenants feel absurd in a modern city.
  • She criticized their feudal approach to hierarchy within the organization.
  • His insistence on blind loyalty feels almost feudal in today’s world.
Synonyms:
medieval