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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
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Much of the novel takes place not in cities like Rawalpindi or Islamabad or Lahore, but in rural Pakistan, where a feudal social structure is more evident. Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025 Season 1 followed the power struggles among feudal lords in early 17th century Japan, with Toranaga navigating political intrigue and warfare while an English sailor becomes entangled in the conflict. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Nov. 2025 Set in 1878 Japan, Last Samurai Standing takes place in the post-feudal period when the few remaining samurai have become personas non grata, with a rapidly modernizing Japanese society shunning the once great warriors, and outlawing their swords. Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025 In Butler’s neo-feudal vision, states and cities erect strict borders to deter migrants, the gap between rich and poor has widened, and massive wildfires in Southern California drive the state’s decline. Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025 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 29 Nov. 2025.

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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