polity
Americannoun
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a particular form or system of government.
civil polity; ecclesiastical polity.
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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.
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government or administrative regulation.
The colonists demanded independence in matters of internal polity.
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a state or other organized community or body.
noun
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a form of government or organization of a state, church, society, etc; constitution
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a politically organized society, state, city, etc
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the management of public or civil affairs
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political organization
Etymology
Origin of polity
1530–40; < Latin polītīa < Greek polīteía citizenship, government, form of government, commonwealth, equivalent to polī́te-, variant stem of polī́tēs citizen ( see polis, -ite 1) + -ia -ia
Explanation
The noun polity refers to a political group of any size or shape — it can be a government, a state, a country, or even a social group. When you hear the word polity, think politics and you're on the right track. The prefix for polity dates all the way back to Greece, from the word politeia, which means "citizenship" or "government." Any group run by politics can be called a polity. The Democratic Party is a polity, but hopefully your birthday party isn't.
Vocabulary lists containing polity
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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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.
Sports, at its finest, can act as a cultural common denominator for our ever-fractious and divided polity.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026
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 • Nov. 14, 2025
"I think taking into account the circumstances and the compulsions of a coalition polity, I have done as best as I could do under the circumstances."
From BBC • Dec. 27, 2024
The essay’s endurance is born out of the way Washington transformed his farewell into a reminder of civility, dignity, humility, and polity.
From Slate • Jul. 22, 2024
The Moche polity broke up around 800 a.d., taking with it our chance to understand.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
