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  

/ ˈɛntɪtətɪv, 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

During all this time, his reputation grew, his wartime leadership immortalised in murals around Republika Srpska -- the Serbian entity within Bosnia.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

The murderous entity has earned iconic status in pop culture thanks to its central role in “It,” “It: Chapter Two” and HBO’s “It: Welcome to Derry.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

This would involve imposing sanctions on not just Iran but any entity doing business with it.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

If some higher-level entity inside the brain is responsible for observing information and deciding what to do, scientists still need to explain how that controller itself works.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

She didn’t even know these kids, but at the moment they were all one single entity.

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata

“This is a responsible step forward and moves us toward a more stable and sustainable framework, and we urge all public entities seeking reform to accept this solution now,” Nicchitta said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

They divide Bosnia into two entities, the Serb Republika Srpska and the Muslim Croat Federation of Bosnia, each enjoying a large degree of autonomy and united by weak central institutions.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

The tax would start small — perhaps just 1% on the revenues, deductions and assets passed between entities — but would compound with every duplicative layer of ownership.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

The U.S. sanctioned more than 60 entities, individuals and vessels across the world that enable the regime to procure nuclear and missile technology, earn revenue from oil and carry out cyber operations, Bessent said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Thus both Copernicus and Francis Bacon wrote of astronomers ‘feigning’ eccentrics and epicycles—they meant these are imaginary entities.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• body
• individual