incorporeal

[ in-kawr-pawr-ee-uhl, -pohr- ]

adjective

1. not corporeal or material; insubstantial.

   Synonyms: immaterial, spiritual, bodiless

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of nonmaterial beings.
3. Law. without material existence but existing in contemplation of law, as a franchise.

incorporeal

/ ˌɪnkɔːˈpɔːrɪəl; ɪnˌkɔːpəˈriːɪtɪ /

adjective

1. without material form, body, or substance
2. spiritual or metaphysical
3. law having no material existence but existing by reason of its annexation of something material, such as an easement, touchline, copyright, etc

   an incorporeal hereditament

Derived Forms

• ˌincorˈporeally, adverb
• incorporeity, noun

Other Words From

• incor·pore·ali·ty noun
• incor·pore·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incorporeal¹

1525–35; < Latin incorpore ( us ) + -al ¹. See in- ³, corporeal

Example Sentences

These various abodes to which the incorporeal man took flight were not always his everlasting home.

From Project Gutenberg

In this case, the qualities must be incorporeal and active; for, according to the Stoics, matter is a passive subject.

From Project Gutenberg

The benefit itself is incorporeal, and never becomes invalid; but its subject-matter changes owners, and passes from hand to hand.

From Project Gutenberg

As God is incorporeal he is not subject to corporeal accidents or human feelings.

From Project Gutenberg

But there is also an incorporeal cause, likewise a ship, viz., the ship in the mind of the shipbuilder.

From Project Gutenberg