incorporeal
in-kor-POHR-ee-ul
/ˌɪnkɔːˈpɔːriəl/
Not composed of matter; having no material body or form.
Used to describe minds, mathematical truths, ghosts, or digital entities that lack physical mass.
The story behind the word. Formed in Middle English from Latin 'incorporeus', combining 'in-' (not) with 'corporeus' (bodily). It was widely used by medieval theologians seeking to define divine nature versus human physical flesh.
Word relationships
- ethereal: 'Ethereal' suggests delicate, airy lightness, whereas 'incorporeal' strictly means entirely non-physical.
- corporeal: 'Corporeal' means having a physical body.
Commonly confused with
- intangible: 'Intangible' can describe abstract ideas like trust or reputation, while 'incorporeal' is a philosophical/ontological term for non-bodily existence.
Word family
- incorporeality (noun): The quality of lacking physical form.
Collocations
- incorporeal soul
- incorporeal existence
- incorporeal substance
- incorporeal entity
Example sentences
- "Descartes argued that the human mind was an incorporeal substance distinct from the physical body." Philosophy of mind
- "The spectral figure glided through the solid wall with incorporeal ease." Ghost literature
Memory hook
IN-CORPOREAL: IN means NOT, CORP means BODY. NOT having a body. Without a bodily form.
When not to use
Do not use for temporary invisible states (like clear air); it denotes an intrinsic lack of physical body.
Fun facts
- In legal terms, intellectual property like copyrights and trademarks are classified as 'incorporeal property'.
Related words
Explore more words
incorruptible, unsubstantiated, abstract, Virtual, untouched, materiality
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.