polity
English
Etymology
From Middle French politie, from Latin politia (circa 1530s C.E.), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía, “polity, policy, the state”). Doublet of policy and police.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɒ.lɪ.tɪ/
- (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈpɑ.lɪ.ti/
Audio (UK) (file) Audio (US) (file)
Noun
polity (plural polities)
- (politics) An organizational structure of the government of a state, church, etc.
- (political science) A politically organized unit; a state.
- Different nations have different forms of polities, from provinces and states to territories and municipalities.
Related terms
- police
- policy
- politic
- political
- politician
- politicize
- politics
Translations
an organizational structure of the government
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politically organized unit
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Further reading
- polity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- polity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911