polity

noun

pol·i·ty ˈpä-lə-tē

plural polities

: political organization

: a specific form of political organization

: a politically organized unit

: the form or constitution of a politically organized unit

: the form of government of a religious denomination

Examples of polity in a Sentence

the polities of medieval Italy

Recent Examples on the Web Alexander Hamilton described long ago what the America polity would look like if Trump wins in November. —

Kendra Stanton Lee, Newsweek, 9 July 2024 For such a fractured polity, this could be the last time there is such a choice. —

Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024 Other founders, such as John Adams and George Washington were familiar with the Iroquois polity. —

Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2024 As Bridget Coggins has argued, even the norm of states being the primary actors in the international system—and related rules governing which polities are recognized as states—is a function of power. —

Tanisha M. Fazal, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for polity

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from Late Latin polītīa "citizenship, political organization, constitution of a state, administrative direction," with ending conformed to -ity — more at police entry 1

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of polity was in 1538

See more words from the same year