corpulent
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of corpulent
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin corpulentus, equivalent to corp ( us ) body + -ulentus -ulent
Explanation
Corpulent is a formal word that describes someone who is very overweight. You might describe Santa Claus as a corpulent man with a ruddy complexion and a jolly grin. There are certainly many other ways to describe an overweight person: obese, portly, and stout are only a few. Corpulent is from Latin corpulentus, from corpus "body." The Latin suffix -ulentus, corresponding to English -ulent, has the meaning "full of, having in quantity."
Vocabulary lists containing corpulent
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Lord of the Flies
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Body Language: Corp ("Body")
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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.
Corpulent Grand is an American Obscenity, wickedly wealthy, bored, amoral, mischievous, and radically committed to disturbance.
From Slate • Jul. 31, 2019
Corpulent Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning in mop-up duty in a 15-6 loss to the Dodgers.
From Seattle Times • May 4, 2018
Corpulent, jovial, ingratiating, he refused to discuss details, saying that he had been busy playing golf last summer and had now just returned from Europe.
From Time Magazine Archive
Corpulent Producer Miller is supposed to have spent $75,000 on mounting Victoria Regina.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Corpulent" means fat; "stout" and "lusty" denote a strong frame.
From New Word-Analysis Or, School Etymology of English Derivative Words by Swinton, William
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.
