feudal

adjective

feu·​dal ˈfyü-dᵊl How to pronounce feudal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or suggestive of feudalism
feudal law
a feudal lord
2
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a medieval fee (see fee entry 1 sense 1)
feudal rights and services
feudally adverb

Examples of feudal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
My parents grew up in a China that was near-feudal. Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026 Tiltrotor — remarkable achievements for a nation barely a century removed from semi-feudal rule to be sure, but not exactly breaking news. Joe Wilkins Published Feb 4, Futurism, 4 Feb. 2026 In the internal logic of Venezuela’s ruling system, power functions less like that of a modern institutional state and more like a feudal hierarchy, where control of armed force determines political survival. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026 One of them was Yamamoto Tsunetomo – a servant of Nabeshima Mitsushige, a feudal lord in southern Japan. Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for feudal

Word History

Etymology

see feud entry 2

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of feudal was in 1602

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Feudal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feudal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

feudal

adjective
feu·​dal ˈfyüd-ᵊl How to pronounce feudal (audio)
: of or relating to feudalism
feudally adverb

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