entity

American  

[en-ti-tee] / ˈɛn tɪ ti /

noun

• entities
  plural

1. something that has a real existence; thing.

   corporeal entities.

2. being or existence, especially when considered as distinct, independent, or self-contained.

   He conceived of society as composed of particular entities requiring special treatment.

3. essential nature.

   The entity of justice is universality.

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entity British  

/ ˈɛntɪtɪ /

noun

1. something having real or distinct existence; a thing, esp when considered as independent of other things

2. existence or being

3. the essence or real nature

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• entitative
  adjective
• entitatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• entities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of entity

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin entitās, from enti-, stem of ēns “being” (present participle of esse “to be”; cf. essence ( def. )) + -tās -ty ²

Explanation

If your little sister turns her lemonade stand into a lemonade empire, she might incorporate it as a company. Under the law, it would be considered an entity, or a separate being for purposes of government control. The word entity originally meant "being, existence," and was borrowed from Medieval Latin entitas, from Latin ens, irregular form of esse "to be, exist." The suffix –ity means "quality or state." Medieval Christian philosophers, influenced by the Church Fathers and Aristotle, discussed the concept of ens "abstract being" versus esse "actual being."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

entity entities

Tata Sons, the business entity, is described by the group as the "fastener keeping the many disparate elements of the whole together".

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

"Granting rights and moral protections to a technological entity, one that looks to be on a path to be seismically more capable and intelligent than us, is a recipe for disaster," he wrote.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

It’s not a traditional rhythm section, but if anything were out of alignment, it would throw the entire entity out of order.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

Paramount Skydance confirmed that David Ellison would serve as co-chief executive of Skydance, the entity due to emerge following the Hollywood studio’s acquisition of rival Warner Bros Discovery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

The Ekumen could not appeal to these people as a social unit, a mobilizable entity: rather it must speak to their strong though undeveloped sense of humanity, of human unity.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Now with these entities in rival corners, that is coming under strain.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

For many Indians, both the entities together make up what most companies cannot buy - trust.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Most of the offshore and state-regulated FTX corporate entities went bankrupt, but the customer property held by its CFTC-registered subsidiary remained segregated and secure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

The Japanese company said it would acquire shares of IntraBio from existing shareholders, including individuals, trusts and corporate entities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

After the vehicles were registered in the name of state entities, private drivers were hired, and wanderers like Shin were offered low-cost, no-questions- asked transport around much of the country.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

Related Words

• body
• individual