fiefdom

noun

fief·​dom ˈfēf-dəm How to pronounce fiefdom (audio)
plural fiefdoms
: an area over which someone exercises control as or in the manner of a feudal lord
The Seigneur could not sell his fiefdom without approval from the Queen.Timothy Foote
… he encouraged the notion that the company was an extension of himself, and certainly it had been argued over the years that in his spending habits he treated it as his personal fiefdom.Connie Bruck
These men began to run Brazil as their personal fiefdom.Sue Branford
… corruption and nepotism are as rife as ever, with regional party leaders running their local fiefdoms like mafia godfathers.Michael A. Hall

Examples of fiefdom in a Sentence

you'll have to ask that guy—the project is his fiefdom
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.
The place, mismanaged by Amtrak for more than a half century and divided into balkanized fiefdoms, is an embarrassment to America’s premier city. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025 This morning’s must reads (Leo Duarte) How the Mexican Mafia’s ‘Pomona Mike’ made L.A.’s federal jail his fiefdom. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025 What was wrong with an assortment of kingdoms, fiefdoms, and tribes? Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 Apr. 2025 Without immediate reform, these organizations will continue to operate as unregulated fiefdoms—putting homeowners, businesses, and Florida's real estate market at risk. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fiefdom

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiefdom was in 1814

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fiefdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiefdom. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fiefdom

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!