English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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 notes

In 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

Word forms

fealties plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “fealty” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The knight swore _____ to the king before the entire court.

Etymology

From Old French feauté, ultimately from Latin fidelitas ("faithfulness") — a doublet of "fidelity".

Origin: Latin

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".

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial