corpse

noun

ˈkȯrps 

1

archaic : a human or animal body whether living or dead

2

a

: a dead body especially of a human being

b

: the remains of something discarded or defunct

the corpses of rusting cars

Did you know?

Distinguishing Between Core and Corps and Corpse and Corp

These words are frequently confused despite their very different applications. Core and corps both rhyme with more. Core can be a noun, verb, or adjective, but is most often used as a noun to refer to the central or most important part of something (“the core of the issue,” “the Earth’s core”) or to the usually inedible central part of a fruit (“an apple core”). Corps has several meanings, all of which refer to some kind of group: “the Marine Corps,” “the press corps.” Its plural form is also spelled corps (“two corps of reporters”) but is pronounced just as cores is. Unlike in corps, The “p” in corpse and corp is pronounced. Corpse refers to a dead body, and especially to the dead body of a human. Corp is an abbreviation for “corporation” and “corporal.” Corp, corps, and corpse all trace back to the Latin word corpus, meaning “body.” The origin of core is obscure.

Synonyms of corpse

• carcass
• remains
• cadaver
• relics

Examples of corpse in a Sentence

a battlefield strewn with corpses

the startling discovery of a corpse required a call to the police

Recent Examples on the Web

Watkins has been charged with a felony count of delivery of narcotics and a misdemeanor count of abuse of a corpse. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 30 June 2026

There's the Battle of the Gullet in the premiere, and then everything that comes next — from Rhaenyra unloading her grief before the corpse of her eldest son to her taking the Iron Throne at King's Landing to become Westeros' new queen. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026

The family’s ordeal worsened Sunday when her brother-in-law found the body of his mother, Rosa María Díaz de Rodríguez, among a pile of corpses. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026

The corpse was shipped to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, which will administer a necropsy to determine the cause of death. — Andrea Sachs The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cors, corps, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin corpus "body" — more at midriff

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corpse

• corpse flower
• corpse plant
• corpse pose

Rhymes for corpse

• warps

Kids Definition

corpse

noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rps 

: a dead body

Etymology

Middle English corps "human body," from early French corps (same meaning), from Latin corpus "body"

Medical Definition

corpse

noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rps 

: a dead body especially of a human being