What does feudality mean?
Feudality is a noun denoting the feudal system — the medieval order of society in which land was held from a superior lord in return for homage, loyalty, and service — as well as, more narrowly, the bundle of feudal rights, dues, and tenures attached to land or rank. The word is a somewhat older and rarer alternative to the far more common 'feudalism', and it appears today mainly in historical writing and in legal contexts, notably Scottish debates over the abolition of feudal tenure, which was accomplished there by statute in 2000. Because it is uncommon, feudality can sound formal or archaic; writers generally choose it for precision about legal relationships rather than for the broader social picture that 'feudalism' evokes. Its root connects it to words such as 'fee' and 'fief', all descending from the Germanic-Latin term for a granted estate of land.
nounThe feudal system or condition of society organized according to feudal principles; also, collectively, the rights, tenures, and obligations characteristic of feudal law.
- The feudal system of political and social organization based on holding land in exchange for service.
- Collectively, the feudal rights, dues, and tenures attaching to property or status.
"Under strict feudality, a lord's land could only be held by vassals who swore homage and military service."
"Scotland's old feudality was formally dismantled by an act of parliament in 2000, finally abolishing feudal tenure."
"Historians debate whether feudality was ever as tidy a system as later legal scholars described."
The plural is very rare; when used, it typically refers to multiple instances of feudal rights or dues rather than to multiple feudal systems.
"The charter enumerated the various feudalities owed to the crown."
Before 'feudalism' became fashionable in the 19th century, English writers mostly reached for this now-forgotten twin: feudality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of feudality
Feudality derives from 'feudal', which comes from Medieval Latin feodalis, relating to feodum or feudum, the Latinized form of a Germanic word for a fief or held estate of land. The suffix '-ity' forms abstract nouns of state or condition, so feudality literally means 'the condition of being feudal'. The same root gives English 'fee', originally meaning a piece of land held in return for service, as well as 'fief' and 'fealty'. The word entered English in the early modern period, before 'feudalism' was coined in the nineteenth century.
Related word forms
How feudality is actually used
Feudality is rare in modern English and carries a formal, historical, or legal register; 'feudalism' is the usual everyday term. It survives chiefly in historical scholarship and in legal contexts such as Scottish discussions of abolishing feudal tenure.
Easily confused with feudality
Feudalism is the standard modern term for the medieval political and social system, while feudality is an older and much rarer synonym that can also denote feudal rights and tenures specifically.
Fealty means the sworn loyalty of a vassal to his lord, whereas feudality refers to the feudal system as a whole.