Feudalism is a term used to describe the social, economic and political organization in medieval Europe. It is also used to describe the system of land ownership and land tenure where lords held power over their subjects who were tied to the land. There are many synonyms for the term feudal; these include medieval, ancient, traditional, archaic, old-fashioned, outmoded, antique, and outdated. Each of these terms is used to describe a system that is no longer in use today or has changed significantly over time. However, the term feudal still retains its significance as a historical reference to a period in European history that saw significant changes in the structure of society and the distribution of power.