corporeal

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

adjective

1. of the nature of the physical body; bodily.

   Antonyms: spiritual

2. material; tangible:

   corporeal property.

   Antonyms: intangible

corporeal

/ kɔːˈpɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. of the nature of the physical body; not spiritual
2. of a material nature; physical

Derived Forms

• corˌporeˈality, noun
• corˈporeally, adverb

Other Words From

• cor·pore·ali·ty cor·pore·al·ness noun
• cor·pore·al·ly adverb
• noncor·pore·al adjective
• noncor·pore·ali·ty noun
• transcor·pore·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of corporeal¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin corpore(us) “bodily” ( corpor- (stem of corpus “body”) + -eus adjective suffix) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of corporeal¹

C17: from Latin corporeus, from corpus body

Synonym Study

See physical.

Example Sentences

Blanchard and Lemmons also revive an old operatic device by creating a dual spirit-like character — Destiny and Loneliness — to accompany the corporeal roles and haunt Charles wherever he goes.

From Salon

According to Butler, normative society imposes behaviors and expressions that define what is a man or woman to the point where our perception of even corporeal sexual differences is shaped by gendered conventions.

From Salon

The crosses throughout a bizarre realm wreathed in shadow mark sites where he has shed his corporeal flesh.

From New York Times

A highlight of the show is their seduction scene: It’s the first I’ve seen onstage that unabashedly invokes the corporeal indignities of aging.

From New York Times

Characters are introduced who are corporeal and do things that only an actual person can do, like light a cigarette or commit murder, but don’t show up on any video recordings.

From Salon