entity
Americannoun
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something that has a real existence; thing.
corporeal entities.
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being or existence, especially when considered as distinct, independent, or self-contained.
He conceived of society as composed of particular entities requiring special treatment.
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essential nature.
The entity of justice is universality.
noun
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something having real or distinct existence; a thing, esp when considered as independent of other things
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existence or being
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the essence or real nature
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing entity
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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Vocabulary to Describe Literary Devices
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10 Tricky Words From 8th Grade Vocabulary Experts
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If the federal government were the only entity who could file these claims, then every small hotel chain with a broken ramp might go unfixed.
From Slate • May 19, 2026
“There is no historical precedent that the merged entity will share that increased profitability with customers in the form of lower prices or noticeably increased reliability, unless required to,” he said.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
A combined NextEra-Dominion entity worth around $250 billion could loom over the sector.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
SPVs provide a workaround to the limit on the number of shareholders private companies are permitted to have by offering investments in an entity that holds the investment.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Then I see the sculpture, a few hundred yards away from the doors we entered through yesterday, gloomy and massive and mysterious, like a living entity.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
