PoliticsJuly 18, 2026
vassal
VAS-uhl
Definition
A person, state, or entity in a subordinate or dependent position, often under the protection or authority of a more powerful entity.
Etymology
Derived from the Medieval Latin 'vassallus', which comes from the Old Celtic word 'wasso', meaning a young man or servant.
In the news
The term is used to describe the concern that European nations might become overly dependent on the United States, effectively losing their strategic autonomy to operate as a subordinate entity.
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