polity

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɒlɪti/

noun (plural polities)

  • a form or process of civil government or constitution: the civic humanist’s polity a vision of a plural Arab polity
  • an organized society; a state as a political entity: the period in which West Germany was a distinct polity

Origin:

mid 16th century: from obsolete French politie, via Latin from Greek politeia 'citizenship, government', from politēs 'citizen', from polis 'city'