polity

American  

[pol-i-tee] / ˈpɒl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

polities

1. a particular form or system of government.

   civil polity; ecclesiastical polity.

2. the condition of being constituted as a state or other organized community or body.

   The polity of ancient Athens became a standard for later governments.

3. government or administrative regulation.

   The colonists demanded independence in matters of internal polity.

4. a state or other organized community or body.

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polity British  

/ ˈpɒlɪtɪ /

noun

1. a form of government or organization of a state, church, society, etc; constitution

2. a politically organized society, state, city, etc

3. the management of public or civil affairs

4. political organization

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Etymology

Origin of polity

1530–40; < Latin polītīa < Greek polīteía citizenship, government, form of government, commonwealth, equivalent to polī́te-, variant stem of polī́tēs citizen ( polis, -ite ¹ ) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

Inertia is the easiest and most likely choice in any polity, and sometimes not even a crisis is enough to dislodge a dysfunctional status quo.

From The Wall Street Journal

The “resource curse” might well upend their newly independent polity as it has others.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though Stoics believed themselves part of a cosmopolis—a polity of all humankind—it was nonetheless Marcus’ duty to stop those with “simpler minds” from harming that community, writes Mr. Stephens.

From The Wall Street Journal

He predicts that when Mr. Xi dies, we can expect “another swing of the political pendulum toward a more moderate polity, just as that occurring following Mao’s demise.”

From The Wall Street Journal

With the chorus representing the voice of the polity eliminated, in essence Mr. Icke has transformed the play into a more intimate if no less fraught family tragedy.

From The Wall Street Journal