gesellschafts

Gesellschaft is a German term with several related meanings. In everyday language it translates as society or association of people; in business and law it also designates a legally recognized corporate entity. The plural form is Gesellschaften, and the attributive prefix Gesellschafts- is used to form compound nouns such as Gesellschaftsrecht, Gesellschaftsvertrag, and Gesellschaftsform.

In sociology, the term is central to the distinction between Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft, introduced by Ferdinand Tönnies. Gemeinschaft refers to close-knit, community-oriented ties; Gesellschaft refers to large, impersonal, goal-oriented associations typical of modern cities. The concept is used to describe changes in social bonds and forms of social organization.

In German corporate law, "Gesellschaft" designates a legally recognized entity formed by one or more persons. Common forms include Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) with limited liability, and Aktiengesellschaft (AG) with share capital. Other forms include Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG) and Kommanditgesellschaft (KG). The term appears in Gesellschaftsvertrag (articles of association) and Gesellschaftsrecht (corporate law).