What does feud mean?
A feud is a prolonged and bitter conflict between two parties — typically families, clans, organizations, or public figures — marked by sustained hostility and often escalating acts of retaliation. Unlike an ordinary argument, a feud implies deep-seated grievance that persists over time, sometimes across generations, as in the notorious American family feuds of the nineteenth century. The word also functions as a verb: to feud is to wage such a conflict, as when rival celebrities publicly feud on social media. The term carries strong connotations of entrenched animosity, honour, and revenge, and appears frequently in fixed phrases such as 'blood feud' and 'family feud'. Etymologically, it traces back through Old French to a Germanic root meaning mutual hatred or enmity, making it a linguistic cousin of the word 'foe'. Whether describing historic clan conflicts or modern celebrity spats, 'feud' vividly signals a quarrel that has outgrown any simple resolution.
A prolonged and bitter quarrel or state of hostilities between two parties, especially families, clans, or groups.
"Their feud began over a property line and lasted forty years."
Often modified by adjectives emphasizing duration or intensity, as in 'long-running feud' or 'bitter feud'.
To engage in or carry on a prolonged, bitter quarrel with another party.
"The two critics have feuded publicly since the award ceremony."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple distinct conflicts.
"History books record countless feuds between rival noble houses."
The famous Hatfield–McCoy feud was so intense it helped inspire the phrase 'bad blood' — proof that some grudges can outlive the people who started them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of feud
The word 'feud' entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French 'feide' (also spelled 'faide'), borrowed from a Frankish Germanic root meaning mutual enmity or hostility, cognate with the Old English word behind modern 'foe'. It should not be confused with the homograph 'feud' meaning a heritable grant of land under feudal law, which derives independently from Latin 'foedus', 'covenant'. The sense of a prolonged, vengeful quarrel has remained stable since its adoption into English.
How feud is actually used
'Feud' carries a strong connotation of deep-rooted, long-standing animosity rather than a passing disagreement. It is common in both historical contexts (clan and family feuds) and figurative modern usage (public feuds between celebrities). The verb form is somewhat less frequent than the noun.
Easily confused with feud
Though similar in spelling, 'feudal' refers to the medieval system of landholding based on obligations between lord and vassal and derives from Latin 'foedus', whereas 'feud' as hostility comes from a Germanic root meaning enmity.