noun
fealty
FEE-uhl-tee
Fealty (noun) means Loyalty and formal obedience owed by a vassal to a feudal lord; more broadly, sworn faithfulness or allegiance. Example: “The knight swore fealty to the king before the entire court.”
noun
1
Loyalty and formal obedience owed by a vassal to a feudal lord; more broadly, sworn faithfulness or allegiance.
"The knight swore fealty to the king before the entire court."
"Modern writers sometimes use "fealty" for intense loyalty to a cause or leader."
How to use fealty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSworn loyalty, historically owed by a vassal to a lord.
When to use it
Formal and mostly historical or literary; rarely used in everyday speech.
Common pairings
swear fealty
pledge fealty to
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Word forms
- Plural
- fealties
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The knight swore _____ to the king before the entire court.
Etymology
From Old French feauté, ultimately from Latin fidelitas ("faithfulness") — a doublet of "fidelity".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fealty
See all rhymes for fealty →Frequently asked questions
What does “fealty” mean?
The word “fealty” means loyalty and formal obedience owed by a vassal to a feudal lord; more broadly, sworn faithfulness or allegiance. In plain terms, sworn loyalty, historically owed by a vassal to a lord.
How do you pronounce “fealty”?
“Fealty” is pronounced FEE-uhl-tee (/ˈfiː.əlti/ in IPA).
How do you use “fealty” in a sentence?
Here is “fealty” used in a sentence: “The knight swore fealty to the king before the entire court.”
What part of speech is “fealty”?
“Fealty” is a noun.
Where does the word “fealty” come from?
The word “fealty” comes from Latin. From Old French feauté, ultimately from Latin fidelitas ("faithfulness") — a doublet of "fidelity".
