homoios

Homoios is a Greek adjective meaning “like, similar, resembling” and can also carry the sense of “equal.” In classical Greek, the term expresses likeness or parity, and its usage spans descriptions of appearance, characterization, and social relations.

In ancient Greek history, the noun form homoioi (the Equals) referred to the citizen body of Sparta who shared similar status, privileges, and military duties. The term signified a socially and politically unified group within Lacedaemonian society, distinct from other classes such as the hypomeioi (those of lesser status).

In later Christian theology, the stem appears in terms such as homoiousios and, more famously, homoousios. Homoiousios means “of similar substance” and was used by some groups to argue that the Father and the Son are of like but not identical substance. Homoousios means “of the same substance” and became the decisive term in the Nicene Creed, affirming the essential sameness of the Father and the Son. The distinction between these terms reflects a central theological controversy of the 4th century regarding the nature of the Trinity.

Today, homoios is primarily encountered in discussions of ancient Greek philosophy, rhetoric, Spartan history, and Christian theological debates. Its core idea remains the notion of likeness or equality, whether in form, status, or substance.