Feudalism

/ˈfjudəˌlɪzəm/ noun

Definition

A medieval European social and political system based on the exchange of land for military service, characterized by hierarchical relationships between lords and vassals.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin 'feudum' (fief) meaning 'land held in exchange for service,' possibly derived from Frankish or Germanic roots. The term 'feudalism' itself was coined by 17th-century scholars to describe medieval social structures.

Kelly Says

Feudalism wasn't actually called 'feudalism' by medieval people—they just lived it! This system emerged as a practical solution to the collapse of centralized government: when kings couldn't protect everyone, local strongmen stepped in, creating a web of personal loyalties that defined European society for centuries and still influences our ideas about honor and obligation.

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ፈውዳልስም
feh-oo-DAH-leez-m
ARالعربية
إقطاعية
iqṭāʿiyyah
BNবাংলা
সামন্তবাদ
saamant-baad
CACatalà
feudalisme
fay-oo-DAH-leez-muh
CSČeština
feudalismus
fay-oo-DAH-leez-muhs
DADansk
feudalisme
fay-oo-DAH-leez-muh
DEDeutsch
Feudalismus
FAY-oo-DAH-leez-muhs
ELΕλληνικά
φεουδαρχισμός
feh-oo-dar-khee-zmohs
ESEspañol
feudalismo
fay-oo-DAH-leez-moh
FAفارسی
فئودالیسم
fay-oo-DAH-leez-m
FISuomi
feodalismi
fay-oh-DAH-leez-mee
FRFrançais
féodalisme
fay-oh-DAH-leez-muh
GUGU
સામંતવાદ
saamant-vaad
HAHA
tsarin sarauta
tsah-rin sah-rah-oo-tah
HEעברית
פיאודליזם
pee-yoo-DAH-leez-m
HIहिन्दी
सामंतवाद
saamant-vaad
HUMagyar
feudalizmus
fay-oo-DAH-leez-muhs
IDBahasa Indonesia
feodalisme
fay-oh-DAH-leez-muh
IGIG
ụdị ọchịchị
oo-dee oh-chee-chee
ITItaliano
feudalesimo
fay-oo-DAH-leh-zee-moh
JA日本語
封建制
hōken-sei
KKKK
феодализм
fay-oh-DAH-leez-m
KMKM
របបសំណាញ់
robah sang neang
KO한국어
봉건제
bong-geon-jeh
MRMR
सामंतवाद
saamant-vaad
MSBahasa Melayu
feodalisme
fay-oh-DAH-leez-muh
MYမြန်မာ
စည်းစိမ်ခေတ်
sanyee-shein hkeht
NLNederlands
feodalisme
fay-oh-DAH-leez-muh
NONorsk
feudalisme
fay-oo-DAH-leez-muh
PAPA
ਸਾਮਂਤਵਾਦ
saamant-vaad
PLPolski
feudalizm
fay-oo-DAH-leez-m
PTPortuguês
feudalismo
fay-oo-DAH-leez-moh
RORomână
feudalism
fay-oo-DAH-leez-m
RUРусский
феодализм
fay-oh-DAH-leez-m
SVSvenska
feodalism
fay-oh-DAH-leez-m
SWKiswahili
ufyodalism
oo-fee-oh-DAH-leez-m
TAதமிழ்
பிரபுத்துவம்
piraputtuvam
TEతెలుగు
సామంతవాదం
saamant-vaadam
THไทย
ระบบศักดินา
rahb sahk-dee-nah
TLTL
pyudalismo
pyoo-DAH-leez-moh
TRTürkçe
feodalizm
fay-oh-DAH-leez-m
UKУкраїнська
феодалізм
fay-oh-DAH-leez-m
URاردو
جاگیردارانہ نظام
jageer-daraanah nizam
VITiếng Việt
chế độ phong kiến
cheh doh fohng kee-en
YOYO
ìṣẹ̀ṣe
ee-sheh-sheh
ZH中文
封建制度
fēng jiàn zhì dù
ZUZU
ubukhazimusi
oo-boo-kah-zee-moo-see

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.