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.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [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’.
Check pronunciation:
polity