noun
fief
feef
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
Word Forms
fiefs plural
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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."