Entity

An entity is something that has a distinct, separate existence, though it need not be a material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities. In general, there is also no presumption that an entity is animate.

Related Topics:
Distinct - Existence - Abstraction - Legal fiction - Animate

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An entity could be viewed as a set containing subsets. In philosophy, such sets are said to be abstract objects.

Related Topics:
Set - Subset - Philosophy - Abstract object

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The word 'entity' is often useful when one wants to refer to something that could be a human being, a non-human animal, a non-thinking life-form such as a plant or fungus, or a lifeless object; for instance, one could say that any entity that enters a black hole would be transported, in many pieces, to another dimension.

Related Topics:
Animal - Plant - Fungus

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Sometimes, the word 'entity' is used in a general sense of a being, whether or not the referent has material existence; e.g. God is often referred to as an entity with no corporeal form.

Related Topics:
Being - God - Corporeal

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In law, an entity is something capable of bearing legal rights and obligations. It generally means "legal entity" or "artificial person" but also includes "natural person".

Related Topics:
Law - Right - Obligation - Legal entity - Natural person

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