corporeal
Americanadjective
-
of the nature of the physical body; bodily.
- Antonyms:
- spiritual
-
material; tangible.
corporeal property.
- Antonyms:
- intangible
adjective
-
of the nature of the physical body; not spiritual
-
of a material nature; physical
Related Words
See physical.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of corporeal
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin corpore(us) “bodily” ( corpor- (stem of corpus “body”) + -eus adjective suffix) + -al 1
Explanation
Use the adjective corporeal to describe something that has to do with the body, like when your teacher catches you daydreaming and says you need to bring your mental sharpness, not just your corporeal presence to the classroom. Corporeal describes something that has a physical form. It is the opposite of spiritual or emotional. Something that is corporeal exists in the real world. It’s sort of a fancy way of saying bodily or physical. So when you crave double-cheese pizza with sausage and pepperoni, you could blame it on a corporeal need. (It’s a way to make junk-food cravings sound a little bit grand!)
Vocabulary lists containing corporeal
ASVAB Word Knowledge
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Body Language: Corp ("Body")
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A Wrinkle in Time
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Corporeal politics also means a willingness to literally have “skin in the game” and to “take a stand” as one stands “shoulder to shoulder” with other people in a public way as they confront power.
From Salon • Dec. 27, 2024
Corporeal errands like burying the dead may overshadow emotional ones, and without access to foggy moors on which to brood, coping isn’t a given.
From Slate • Oct. 8, 2018
Corporeal penances, such as hair shirts or scourging, are practiced today only in the strictest orders, though Carmelites sometimes make and sell both hair shirts and scourges to priests.
From Time Magazine Archive
The "Personal Corporeal Presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven" is the name of a new dogma which, it is confidently said, and equally confidently denied, Pope Pius XI will promulgate this year.
From Time Magazine Archive
Corporeal and bodily.—What is the distinction between "corporal" and "corporeal"? Ans.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
