feud
B2Formal to Neutral. Common in news, historical, and dramatic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute between two parties, often families or groups.
A state of ongoing hostility or contention, often with a personal or vendetta-like character.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a deep-seated, long-standing enmity, not a momentary argument. Often involves cycles of retaliation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight tendency for 'feud' to be used more in historical/familial contexts in UK English, while US media may apply it more readily to modern celebrity or corporate disputes.
Connotations
Both carry strong connotations of bitterness and longevity.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feud (with sb)feud (between A and B)feud over sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “At feud with someone”
- “A feud to the death”
- “Bury the feud”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for prolonged rivalries between executives or companies (e.g., 'The feud between the co-founders paralyzed the board').
Academic
Common in historical, sociological, and literary studies (e.g., 'The study examined the clan feuds in the Scottish Highlands').
Everyday
Used for serious, drawn-out personal or family arguments (e.g., 'They've had a feud with their neighbours for years over the fence').
Technical
Rare; may appear in legal contexts regarding inheritance or property disputes rooted in family conflicts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The feud between the two families lasted for generations.
- Their bitter feud over the estate was finally settled in court.
American English
- The celebrity feud dominated the tabloids for months.
- A long-standing border feud ignited into violence.
verb
British English
- The two brothers have been feuding for decades.
- The nobles feuded over land and titles.
American English
- The senators have been feuding publicly over the bill.
- The tech giants are still feuding over patent rights.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The two families had a long feud.
- They are feuding with their neighbours.
- The political feud within the party weakened its election campaign.
- The feud originated from a disputed business deal years ago.
- Attempts to mediate the bitter feud proved futile, as both sides were entrenched in their positions.
- The scholarly feud over the interpretation of the text generated more heat than light.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FEUD' as 'FEU' (French for fire) + 'D' for 'dispute'. A feud is a fiery, burning dispute.
Conceptual Metaphor
A feud is a fire/war. It burns, smoulders, erupts, and can be extinguished or reignited.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ссора' (a more general quarrel). 'Feud' is closer to 'вражда' or 'кровная месть'.
- Avoid using for short-term political disagreements; it implies deeper, more personal history.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'feud' for a single, brief argument.
- Incorrect preposition: 'feud against' (correct: 'feud with').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for a 'feud'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'to feud' (feuding, feuded) is common. It means to participate in a prolonged quarrel.
A 'rivalry' is a competition for superiority, which can be friendly or hostile. A 'feud' is explicitly hostile, bitter, and personal, often involving a desire for revenge.
Yes. A 'blood feud' is a specific, often tribal or familial feud where a killing obligates the victim's relatives to seek vengeance, potentially leading to a cycle of violence.
It is pronounced /fjuːd/ (like 'few' with a 'd' at the end) in both British and American English.