Meanings
plural isopolities
- countableuncountableEqual rights of citizenship in different communities; mutual political rights.
A state of isopolity existed when the citizenship of one city was made equivalent to that of another, and vice versa.
2004, Roger Bagnall, Peter Derow, The Hellenistic Period2 more examples
Isopolity...was a relation entered into by treaty between two perfectly equal and independent cities, mutually securing to their citizens all those privileges which a resident alien either could not exercise at all, or only through the mediation of a guardian; the right of intermarriage, of purchasing landed property, of making contracts of every kind, of suing and being sued in person, of being exempted from imposts [taxes] where citizens were so; and also of partaking in sacrifices and festivals.
1832, Barthold Niebuhr, The History of Rome, volume 2A mutual exchange of the private rights of citizenship established the relationship of isopolity...and carried with it the right of intermarriage...and the right to hold land and houses...in each other's dominions.
1911, Coleman Phillipson, The International Law and Custom of Ancient Greece and Rome, volume 1
Origin
- Ancient Greekἰσοπολιτεία
- Englishisopolity
From Ancient Greek ἰσοπολιτεία (isopoliteía), from ἰσοπολίτης (isopolítēs, “citizen with equal rights”), from ἴσος (ísos, “equal, same”) + πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
isopolity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/isopolity
“isopolity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/isopolity. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “isopolity,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/isopolity.
Source: isopolity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.