noun. A political and economic system of Europe from the 9th to about the 15th century, based on the holding of all land in fief or fee and the resulting relation of lord to vassal and characterized by homage, legal and military service of tenants, and forfeiture.

noun. A political, economic, or social order resembling this medieval system.

noun. The feudal system and its incidents; the system of holding lands by military service.

noun. The feudal system; a system by which the holding of estates in land is made dependent upon an obligation to render military service to the king or feudal superior; feudal principles and usages.

noun. A social system based on personal ownership of resources and personal fealty between a suzerain (lord) and a vassal (subject). Defining characteristics are direct ownership of resources, personal loyalty, and a hierarchical social structure reinforced by religion.

noun. the social system that developed in Europe in the 8th century; vassals were protected by lords who they had to serve in war

"And when at a later period civil society was gradually organising itself on that hierarchical model which we know as feudalism, the Church, in the persons of its officers, was tending to become not so much the counterpart of the State as an integral part of it."

capitalism  communism  monarchy  peasant  serf  

feudal  feudalistic  

social organisation  social organization  social structure  social system  structure  

altruism  autocracy  barbarism  capitalism  chivalry  

Nazism  absolutism  bond service  bondage  captivity