noun
( plural fees simple )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French fé simple, from fé fee, fief (from Old French) + Middle French simple — more at fee , simple II
: a freehold estate of inheritance in land or hereditaments that may last forever and may be inherited by all classes of both lineal and collateral heirs of an individual owner or grantee — distinguished from fee tail ; see fee simple absolute , fee simple defeasible