plural fiefdoms
: an area over which someone exercises control as or in the manner of a feudal lord
The Seigneur could not sell his fiefdom without approval from the Queen.—
Timothy Foote
Timothy Foote… he encouraged the notion that the company was an extension of himself, and certainly it had been argued over the years that in his spending habits he treated it as his personal fiefdom.—Connie Bruck
Connie BruckThese men began to run Brazil as their personal fiefdom.—Sue Branford
Sue Branford… corruption and nepotism are as rife as ever, with regional party leaders running their local fiefdoms like mafia godfathers.—Michael A. Hall
Michael A. HallSynonyms
Examples of fiefdom in a Sentence
you'll have to ask that guy—the project is his fiefdom
Recent Examples on the Web
Public opinion is divided into increasingly belligerent fiefdoms, with marginal ability, let alone will, to weigh adversaries’ interests alongside their own.
—Lincoln Caplan, The New Yorker, 4 July 2024
The result is apparent in its coverage plans, with correspondents like Snoop and Jost, but also celebrities taking over roles that in the past had been the fiefdoms of NBC News reporters: The profiles and interviews.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 July 2024
Each Alexa domain, with its own leadership, wanted to protect and expand its fiefdom, one former product manager said.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
Back when 32 community school boards were elected, turnout hovered around 4% — and the panels became political fiefdoms for the connected few.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fiefdom 
Lincoln Caplan, The New Yorker, 4 July 2024
The result is apparent in its coverage plans, with correspondents like Snoop and Jost, but also celebrities taking over roles that in the past had been the fiefdoms of NBC News reporters: The profiles and interviews.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 July 2024
Each Alexa domain, with its own leadership, wanted to protect and expand its fiefdom, one former product manager said.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
Back when 32 community school boards were elected, turnout hovered around 4% — and the panels became political fiefdoms for the connected few.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fiefdom
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fiefdom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fiefdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiefdom. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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