Definition

A territory or area controlled by a powerful person or group, often in a feudal system.

Example

The king granted him a fiefdom in exchange for his loyalty.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new project at work?

Yeah, I heard it's a bit of a fiefdom for our boss.

Exactly! It feels like he has complete control over everything.

Hopefully, it won't affect the team's creativity too much.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fiefdom is formed from "fief" (from Old French *fief*, meaning a feudal estate) and "-dom" (meaning domain or state of being). The word refers to the domain or territory held under a feudal system, typically granted to a vassal by a lord.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'fief' as a feudal estate and '-dom' as a state of being — together, they describe the domain of a feudal estate.

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