incorporeal
in-kor-POR-ee-uhl
/ˌɪn.kɔːˈpɔː.ri.əl/
Not composed of matter; lacking physical or bodily form.
Refers to abstract, spiritual, or mental phenomena that cannot be touched or measured physically.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin prefix 'in-' (not) combined with 'corporeus' (bodily), directly translating to without body.
Word relationships
- intangible: Intangible means impossible to touch, incorporeal means entirely lacking physical body.
- disembodied: Disembodied implies separated from a body, while incorporeal implies naturally having no body.
- corporeal: Having physical bodily form.
Commonly confused with
- immaterial: Immaterial can also mean irrelevant, whereas incorporeal strictly means lacking body.
Word family
- incorporeality (noun): The state of lacking body.
Collocations
- incorporeal entity
- incorporeal soul
- incorporeal presence
Example sentences
- "Descartes argued that the human mind was an incorporeal substance distinct from the body." Philosophy
Memory hook
IN- (not) + CORPOREAL (bodily) = no body. Without physical body.
When not to use
Do not use for invisible physical gases or particles like oxygen.
Fun facts
- In legal terms, an incorporeal right is a right over non-tangible property like copyright.
Explore more words
incorruptible, unsubstantiated, abstract, Virtual, untouched, materiality
Also appears in
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