1. Land held in absolute ownership, free from feudal obligations or the rights of a superior landlord.
Usage: archaic; legal/historical; also spelled alodium

Examples

• In medieval Europe, allodium was rare because most land was held as a fief from a feudal lord.
• The distinction between allodium and feudal land was crucial to understanding property rights in the Middle Ages.
• Unlike a vassal's fief, allodium could be freely sold or inherited without the consent of any overlord.
• Some Germanic tribes recognized allodium as property that belonged entirely to the owner.
• The concept of allodium influenced the development of modern private property law.