in Roman antiquity, a corporation, borough, or enfranchised city or town, where the inhabitants enjoyed their own laws and customs, and at the same time were honoured with the privileges of Roman citizens; but then this privilege generally reached no further than the bare title. Some indeed, by particular merit, obtained the liberty of votes, which occasioned that distinction of municipium sine suffragio, and municipium cum suffragio.—The inhabitants of the municipium sine suffragio were called barely Romani, but those of the municipium cum suffragio were called cives Romani.

The difference between proper citizens of Rome and the inhabitants of the municipium may be thus expressed. The proper citizens of Rome were, 1. Registered in the census; 2. Had the right of suffrage and of bearing honours; 3. Were assessed in the poll-tax; 4. Served in the legions; 5. Used the Roman laws and religion; 6. Were called Quirites and populus Romanus; whereas the municipes enjoyed the three first of these privileges, but were denied the three last.