polity
noun /ˈpɒləti/
/ˈpɑːləti/
(plural polities)
(specialist)- [countable] a society as a political unit
- Such institutions have special significance in a democratic polity.
- The book offers an introduction to the distinctive nature of the British polity.
- [uncountable] the form or process of government
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from obsolete French politie, via Latin from Greek politeia ‘citizenship, government’, from politēs ‘citizen’, from polis ‘city’.