noun
fief
feef
Fief (noun) means Historically, land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service. Example: “The knight was granted a fief in return for his service to the duke.”
noun
1
Historically, land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.
"The knight was granted a fief in return for his service to the duke."
2
Any area or organization that one person controls as if it were their private domain.
"The department had become the manager’s personal fief, run entirely by her own rules."
How to use fief
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally land held under a feudal lord; now often used loosely for any turf someone controls.
Common pairings
a personal fief
carve out a fief
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Word forms
- Plural
- fiefs
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The knight was granted a _____ in return for his service to the duke.
Etymology
From Old French fief, from Medieval Latin feudum — the same root that gives us "fee" and "feudal."
Synonyms
View more →
feoff
fee
Related words
Rhymes for fief
See all rhymes for 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.
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