Pŏl'i-ty, n.

n. [Fr. politie, Lat. politia, Gr. πολιτεία. See POLICY and POLICE.]

1Sense 1. The form or constitution of civil government by which a nation or state is organized; the framework or organization by which the various departments of a civil government are combined into a systematic whole.

2Sense 2. Hence, the form or constitution by which any institution is organized; the recognized principles which lie at the foundation of any human institution.

He looked with indifference on rites, names, and forms of ecclesiastical polity. Macaulay.

Synonyms— Policy. — POLITY, POLICE. These two words were originally the same. Polity is now confined to the structure of a government; as, civil or ecclesiastical polity; while policy is applied to the management of public affairs; as, foreign or domestic policy. Policy has the further sense of skillful or cunning management. “Nor is it possible that any form of polity, much less polity ecclesiastical, should be good, unless God himself be author of it.” Hooker. “The best rule of policy is to prefer the doing of justice before all enjoyments.” K. Charles.