that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)
"The detective realized every shadow in the dark alley could be an entity hiding a secret."
That which has a distinct existence as an individual unit. Often used for organisations which have no physical form.
"The tax department confirmed that our limited liability company is recognized as a separate legal entity, meaning it owes taxes independently of the shareholders."
In plain English: An entity is anything that exists as a separate thing on its own.
"The company is recognized as a separate legal entity in its own right."
Usage: Use entity to refer to any person, organization, or thing that exists as a distinct individual unit, especially in legal or formal contexts where it describes organizations without physical bodies. Avoid using it for vague concepts; reserve it for specific subjects recognized as separate beings or units within a system.
The word entity comes from Medieval Latin, where it originally meant "being." It traveled into English through this earlier form to describe something that exists as a distinct thing.