'nonfeudal' originates from Modern English, formed by the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'feudal' (from Medieval Latin 'feodalis', from 'feodum' meaning 'fief').

'feudal' passed into English via Old French (e.g. 'feodal') from Medieval Latin 'feodalis' (related to 'feodum'); the prefix 'non-' was attached in Modern English to create 'nonfeudal' meaning 'not feudal'.

Initially 'feudal' referred specifically to matters of 'fief' or 'fiefdom'; 'nonfeudal' has been used to denote the absence of feudal characteristics or institutions and has retained that negative/contrastive meaning.