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 Based on James Clavell’s novel, Shogun is a new series about feudal Japan and its complex politics as European powers descend, hoping to enrich themselves and thwart one another. Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Set in feudal Japan at the start of the 17th century, the story begins with a European ship that reaches a fishing village under the stewardship of English pilot John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). Brian Lowry, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 His uncompromising bravado against the industrial and feudal elite of the two other dominant political parties — the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Group (PML-N) — has endeared him to many but also led to political impasse and his ultimate downfall. Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 9 Feb. 2024 Fines date back to the Middle Ages, when feudal lords would let people pay to get out of their stockades – an alternative to being in custody. Courtney E. Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb. 2024 Nearly a third of American households tuned in to watch a cast led by Richard Chamberlain and the iconic Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune retell the tale of an English navigator’s adventures in feudal Japan. TIME, 7 Feb. 2024 The other nominees told stories taking place during World War II, in feudal Japan and at a boarding school. Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 History enthusiasts know Kagoshima, which includes what was once the feudal domain of Satsuma, as the birthplace, in 1828, of Saigo Takamori, known as the last samurai, who led the movement to overthrow the military shogunate in Edo (present-day Tokyo). Mihoko Iida Josh Robenstone Richard Pedaline, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024 Mongolia, after winning independence from Qing China in 1911, began those early decades of the 20th century as a feudal theocracy with a godlike figure, akin to the Dalai Lama, called the Bogd Khan at its helm, overseeing around 80,000 monks. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feudal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near feudal

Cite this Entry

“Feudal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feudal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

feudal

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

More from Merriam-Webster on feudal

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