'non-feudal' is formed in modern English by combining the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') with the adjective 'feudal'. 'Feudal' itself originates from Medieval Latin 'feodalis' related to 'feodum' meaning 'fief' or 'land held in return for service'.

'feudal' entered English via Old French and Medieval Latin ('feodal', 'feodalis') and became Middle English 'feudal'; the prefix 'non-' was later attached in Modern English to create 'non-feudal' as a straightforward negation.

Initially, 'feudal' referred specifically to matters relating to a 'fief' or feudal tenure; 'non-feudal' has consistently meant simply 'not feudal' and has remained a literal negation rather than undergoing major semantic shift.