Perioikos is a term used in ancient Greece to refer to non-citizen residents of a particular area. They were neither slaves nor citizens and were allowed to own property, conduct trade, and engage in various other activities. There are several synonyms for this term depending on the context in which it is used. In ancient Sparta, a similar term used was "Hypomeiones" which meant "inferiors". Other possible synonyms include "metics", "denizens", "sojourners", or "aliens". The term, however, does not imply any derogatory or insulting connotation and has an important role in understanding ancient Greek society.