fief
2 synonyms for fief, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Historically, land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
feoff
How to use fief
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a personal fief
carve out a fief
Etymology
From Old French fief, from Medieval Latin feudum — the same root that gives us "fee" and "feudal."
Full origin of fief →Frequently asked questions
What does “fief” mean?
The word “fief” means historically, land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service. In plain terms, originally land held under a feudal lord; now often used loosely for any turf someone controls.
How do you pronounce “fief”?
“Fief” is pronounced feef (/fiːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “fief” in a sentence?
Here is “fief” used in a sentence: “The knight was granted a fief in return for his service to the duke.”
What is another word for “fief”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fief” include fee.
What part of speech is “fief”?
“Fief” is a noun.
Where does the word “fief” come from?
The word “fief” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French fief, from Medieval Latin feudum — the same root that gives us "fee" and "feudal.".
How many meanings does “fief” have?
“Fief” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.
