feudalism
This term describes a rigid social hierarchy based on land ownership and reciprocal obligations. It evokes an image of a pyramid where power flows downward from a monarch to lords and then to peasants, while labor and loyalty flow upward. In modern usage, the word often carries a negative connotation when applied to corporate or political structures. It suggests an oppressive, outdated system where individuals are trapped in subservient roles through dependency rather than fair contract or merit.
Meanings
A social and political system of medieval Europe in which people worked land owned by a lord in exchange for protection and certain privileges.
"The collapse of feudalism led to the rise of a merchant class and the growth of cities."
A system of government or social organization characterized by a hierarchy of loyalty and obligation, often used metaphorically to describe rigid, outdated power structures.
"Critics described the corporate hierarchy as a form of modern feudalism where employees are bound to a single manager."