fee simple
Preserved but no longer current.
An estate held by a person in his own right, free from condition or limitation, such as that of inheritance by any particular class of heirs. If restricted by conditions, it is called a "Conditional Fee.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “fee simple” mean?
An estate held by a person in his own right, free from condition or limitation, such as that of inheritance by any particular class of heirs. If restricted by conditions, it is called a "Conditional Fee.
Is “fee simple” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.