Definition of: polity

(pol′ə·tē) noun plural ·ties
1. The form or method of government of a nation, state, church, etc.
2. Any community living under some definite form of government. [<OF politie, var. of policie. See POLICY¹.] Synonym: policy. Polity is the permanent system of government of a state, a church, or a society; policy is the method of management with reference to the attainment of certain ends; the national polity of the United States is republican; each administration has a policy of its own. Policy is often used as equivalent to expediency; as, Many think honesty to be good policy. Polity in ecclesiastical use serves a valuable purpose in distinguishing that which relates to administration and government from that which relates to faith and doctrine. See LEGISLATION.