Looking up...
entity
/ˈentəti/
a thing with distinct existence
The company is a legal entity.
The company exists as a separate legal person.
general
something that exists as a distinct and separate thing
In philosophy, an entity is anything that has existence.
Philosophers discuss entities as things that exist.
The database contains multiple entities like users and products.
The database organizes data into distinct categories.
Often used in abstract or conceptual contexts.
Law
formal
a person, company, or organization recognized as having legal rights and responsibilities
The entity must file taxes as a corporation.
The company has legal obligations as a taxable entity.
Non-profit entities often receive tax-exempt status.
Charities are legally recognized as non-profit entities.
Common in legal and business contexts.
Collocations
legal entitya person or organization with legal rightsbusiness entitya company or organizationabstract entitya concept or idea that exists
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Legal vs. General Use
In legal contexts, 'entity' refers to organizations with rights. In general use, it means anything that exists.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'entity' changes based on context—legal, philosophical, or technical.
Word Origin
From Latin 'entitas' (being, essence), from 'ens' (thing that is). First used in English in the 15th century.
Usage Notes
In computing, 'entity' often refers to a data object in a database. In philosophy, it refers to anything that exists.
Word Breakdown
ent
in
prefixity
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary