Standard Lemma guide

serfdom

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈsɜːfdəm/
  • US: /ˈsɚfdəm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)fdəm

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being a serf.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The feudal system that includes serfs.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the state of a serf

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: serfhood, vassalage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bondage, slavery, thrall, thralldom, thraldom

History

Etymology

From serf + -dom.

Across languages

Translations

53 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: servitud — state of being a serf
  • Chinese Mandarin: 農奴身份 /农奴身份 (nóngnú shēnfen) — state of being a serf
  • Danish: livegenskab — state of being a serf
  • Dutch: lijfeigenschap — state of being a serf
  • Estonian: pärisorjus — state of being a serf
  • Finnish: maaorjuus — state of being a serf
  • French: servage — state of being a serf
  • German: Leibeigenschaft — state of being a serf
  • German: Eigenbehörigkeit — state of being a serf
  • Hungarian: jobbágyság — state of being a serf
  • Irish: seirfeachas — state of being a serf
  • Irish: daoirse — state of being a serf
  • Italian: servitù — state of being a serf
  • Lithuanian: baudžiava — state of being a serf
  • Māori: rōpātanga — state of being a serf
  • Polish: pańszczyzna — state of being a serf
  • Portuguese: servidão — state of being a serf
  • Russian: крепостни́чество (krepostníčestvo) — state of being a serf
  • Russian: ра́бство (rábstvo) — state of being a serf
  • Russian: нево́ля (nevólja) — state of being a serf
  • Spanish: servidumbre — state of being a serf
  • Swedish: livegenskap — state of being a serf
  • Swedish: träldom — state of being a serf
  • Ukrainian: кріпацтво (kripactvo) — state of being a serf
  • Ukrainian: кріпаччина (kripaččyna) — state of being a serf
  • Welsh: taeogaeth — state of being a serf
  • Bulgarian: крепостничество (krepostničestvo) — feudal system
  • Chinese Mandarin: 農奴制 /农奴制 (nóngnúzhì) — feudal system
  • Czech: nevolnictví — feudal system
  • Danish: livegenskab — feudal system
  • Dutch: horigheid — feudal system
  • Erzya: модаречи (modareči) — feudal system
  • Estonian: pärisorjus — feudal system
  • Finnish: maaorjuus — feudal system
  • French: servage — feudal system
  • German: Leibeigenschaft — feudal system
  • German: Eigenbehörigkeit — feudal system
  • Hungarian: jobbágyság — feudal system
  • Irish: seirfeachas — feudal system
  • Irish: daoirse — feudal system
  • Italian: servitù della gleba — feudal system
  • Japanese: 農奴制 (nōdosei) — feudal system
  • Norwegian: livegenskap — feudal system
  • Polish: poddaństwo — feudal system
  • Portuguese: servidão — feudal system
  • Russian: крепостно́е пра́во (krepostnóje právo) — feudal system
  • Serbo-Croatian: кмѐтство — feudal system
  • Serbo-Croatian: kmètstvo — feudal system
  • Spanish: servidumbre — feudal system
  • Swedish: livegenskap — feudal system
  • Ukrainian: кріпосне право (kriposne pravo) — feudal system
  • Ukrainian: кріпацтво (kripactvo) — feudal system
  • Ukrainian: кріпаччина (kripaččyna) — feudal system
Real reading context

serfdom in complete knowledge articles