fief
/fiːf/
noun
- In medieval times, a piece of land given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.
- The knight received a fief from the king as a reward for his military service.
- Peasants worked the land of the fief and paid taxes to the lord.
- The size of a fief determined the wealth and power of the vassal.
- An area or activity that someone controls completely, like their own personal territory.
- The old professor considered his research lab his fief and resisted any outside suggestions.
- In the company, each regional director runs their territory like a fief.
- The manager treated the marketing department as his personal fief, making all decisions alone.