What does "entity" mean?

1. (a separate unit or organisation) something that exists as a single, separate unit, especially an organisation or business. 2. (computing/data) a single item or object that a computer database stores information about. 3. (existence) the state of existing or being real. 4. (supernatural being) a spirit or ghost that has its own personality or power.

How do you use "entity"?

Often used with adjectives like 'legal', 'political', or 'commercial'.

entity

US //ˈɛntəti// UK //ˈɛntɪti// en·ti·ty

1 a separate unit or organisation (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal

something that exists as a single, separate unit, especially an organisation or business.

an independent unit with a distinct existence, often used to describe a legal or commercial organisation.

Example

The two companies merged to form a single legal entity.

Example

The subsidiary was treated as a separate legal entity for tax purposes, shielding the parent company from direct liability.

Usage

Often used with adjectives like 'legal', 'political', or 'commercial'.
2 computing/data (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a single item or object that a computer database stores information about.

a discrete object or concept about which data is stored in an information system.

Example

In this database, each customer is treated as a unique entity.

Example

The system architect defined 'Product' as a primary entity, ensuring that every inventory item could be tracked via a unique identifier.

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3 existence (n.)
C2 Proficiency Academic Literary

the state of existing or being real.

the state or quality of existence as a distinct being.

Example

Philosophers have long debated the nature of human entity.

Example

The poet explores the fragile nature of our entity in a world that seems increasingly indifferent to individual life.
- nothingness
4 supernatural being (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a spirit or ghost that has its own personality or power.

a non-physical or supernatural being, such as a spirit or ghost.

Example

The investigators claimed they felt a strange entity in the old house.

Example

The folklore of the region describes a malevolent entity that haunts the woods, though modern scholars view these stories as purely symbolic.

Origin

From the Medieval Latin entitās, from ēns (“being”) (stem: ent-) + -tās (compare essentia), see there for more information.