corporeal
kor-POHR-ee-ul
/kɔːˈpɔːriəl/
Relating to a person's body; having a physical, material body.
Highlights physical, tangible existence as opposed to spiritual, mental, or ghostlike reality.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'corporeus', from 'corpus' (body). The Latin root 'corpus' is responsible for words like 'corpse', 'corporation', and 'corps', all sharing the core idea of a physical body or organized body of people.
Word relationships
- tangible: 'Tangible' means capable of being touched, while 'corporeal' explicitly denotes having an organic or bodily structure.
- incorporeal: 'Incorporeal' means completely lacking physical substance.
Commonly confused with
- corporal: 'Corporal' usually refers to bodily harm/punishment (e.g., corporal punishment), whereas 'corporeal' means having physical substance.
Word family
- corporeality (noun): The state of having a physical body.
- corporeally (adverb): In a physical or bodily manner.
Collocations
- corporeal form
- corporeal existence
- corporeal property
- corporeal reality
Example sentences
- "Angels were traditionally viewed as lacking corporeal form, existing purely as spirits." Theology and spirit
- "Corporeal property refers to tangible goods like land or equipment that have physical presence." Legal terminology
Memory hook
CORPOREAL sounds like CORPSE—a bodily matter. Made of physical flesh and mass.
When not to use
Avoid using to mean 'bodily punishment' specifically; that is often 'corporal'.
Fun facts
- In property law, 'corporeal hereditaments' are physical inheritances like real estate, whereas rights or easements are 'incorporeal'.
Related words
Explore more words
tactile, worldly, temporal, materiality, sensory, kinesthetic
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