/pol"i tee/ , n. , pl. polities .
1. a particular form or system of government: civil polity; ecclesiastical polity.
2. the condition of being constituted as a state or other organized community or body: The polity of ancient Athens became a standard for later governments.
3. government or administrative regulation: The colonists demanded independence in matters of internal polity.
4. a state or other organized community or body.
[ 1530-40; politia politeía citizenship, government, form of government, commonwealth, equiv. to políte-, var. s. of polítes citizen (see POLIS, -ITE 1 ) + -ia -IA ]