fiefdom

noun

fief·​dom ˈfēf-dəm 

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

Synonyms of fiefdom

• area
• realm
• domain
• department
• element
• kingdom
• walk
• field
• sphere
• territory

Examples of fiefdom in a Sentence

you'll have to ask that guy—the project is his fiefdom

Recent Examples on the Web

However, in a post published afterward, authorities said specialized police units, along with members of the Armed Forces of Haiti and private military contractors, were carrying out an operation in Delmas 6, long considered part of Chérizier’s fiefdom. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026

Would make a lovely fiefdom for Rubio or another attendant lord to rule in his spare time. —Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026

The sport is comprised of two heavyweight conferences — the SEC and Big Ten — and two other power leagues — the Big 12 and ACC — each of which acts as its own independent fiefdom, angling for what’s primarily in the best interest of its respective members, not necessarily the greater whole. —Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026

Jack Warner set off the ’60s upheavals by abruptly selling his family fiefdom to an unknown entity named Kinney. —Peter Bart, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fiefdom

• chiefdom