What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
feudal
Example
The feudal system was prevalent in medieval Europe. [feudal: adjective]
Example
The lord granted the vassal a fief in exchange for military service. [feudal: adjective]
feudatory
Example
The feudatory pledged loyalty to the lord in exchange for a fief. [feudatory: noun]
Example
The kingdom was a feudatory of the empire. [feudatory: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Feudal is more commonly used than feudatory in everyday language, especially in historical contexts. Feudatory is less common and may only be encountered in specialized fields or academic writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between feudal and feudatory?
Both feudal and feudatory are formal words that are not commonly used in casual conversation. However, feudal is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while feudatory is more specialized and may only be used in specific contexts.