noun
- an estate of land held from a feudal lord on condition of homage and service
- something over which one has rights or exercises control
Usage: historical
Examples
- The knight received a large fief from his lord in exchange for military service.
- Medieval fiefs were often passed down from father to son.
- The baron’s fief included several villages and farmlands.
- She considered the marketing department her personal fief.
- The CEO treated the company like his own private fief.
- Each manager jealously guarded their departmental fief.