corpus

noun

cor·​pus ˈkȯr-pəs 

plural corpora ˈkȯr-p(ə-)rə 

1

: the body of a human or animal especially when dead

2

a

: the main part or body of a bodily structure or organ

the corpus of the uterus

b

: the main body or corporeal substance of a thing

specifically : the principal of a fund or estate as distinct from income or interest

3

a

: all the writings or works of a particular kind or on a particular subject

especially : the complete works of an author

b

: a collection or body of knowledge or evidence

especially : a collection of recorded utterances used as a basis for the descriptive analysis of a language

Synonyms of corpus

• output

Examples of corpus in a Sentence

a computerized corpus of English

Jane Austen's corpus is modest in number but magnificent in achievement.

Recent Examples on the Web

The result has been a flood of habeas-corpus petitions filed in federal courts—more than fifteen thousand in the past two months alone. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026

The new firm, as is being redefined by AI, is a much smaller corpus of full-time employees, because those are the least flexible workers in your talent pool. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026

For weeks, according to Valero Marcano and a habeas corpus petition seeking the family’s release, Amalia struggled with worsening respiratory symptoms. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026

That leaves a petition for a writ of habeas corpus — in other words, a challenge to detention filed in federal court — as the only option for an attorney looking to get a client out of detention. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Latin, "body, entity, group of people, collection, compendium" — more at midriff

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corpus

• corpus allatum
• corpus callosum
• corpus cardiacum
• corpus delicti
• corpus luteum
• corpus striatum
• habeas corpus
• habeas corpus ad subjiciendum
• writ of habeas corpus

Rhymes for corpus

• porpoise

Medical Definition

corpus

noun

cor·​pus ˈkȯr-pəs 

plural corpora -p(ə-)rə 

1

: the human or animal body especially when dead

2

: the main part or body of a bodily structure or organ

the corpus of the jaw

see corpus uteri

Legal Definition

corpus

noun

cor·​pus ˈkȯr-pəs, -ˌpu̇s 

plural corpora -pə-rə 

: the main body of a thing

specifically : the principal of a fund, trust, or estate as distinct from income or interest : res