corporeal

adjective

cor·​po·​re·​al kȯr-ˈpȯr-ē-əl 

1

: having, consisting of, or relating to a physical material body: such as

a

: not spiritual

… some few traces of a diviner nature which look out through his corporeal baseness …

—Robert Browning

b

: not immaterial or intangible : substantial

corporeal property

2

archaic : corporal

corporeally

kȯr-ˈpȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

corporealness noun

Did you know?

In various religions, including Christianity, corporeal existence is often called the opposite of spiritual existence, and corporeal existence, unlike spiritual existence, is often said to be contaminated with evil. The word is also often used by philosophers, especially when considering the nature of reality. For lawyers, corporeal describes physical property such as houses or cars, as opposed to something valuable but nonphysical like a good reputation.

Synonyms

• physical
• bodily

Choose the Right Synonym for corporeal

material, physical, corporeal, phenomenal, sensible, objective mean of or belonging to actuality.

material implies formation out of tangible matter; used in contrast with spiritual or ideal it may connote the mundane, crass, or grasping.

material values

physical applies to what is perceived directly by the senses and may contrast with mental, spiritual, or imaginary.

the physical benefits of exercise

corporeal implies having the tangible qualities of a body such as shape, size, or resistance to force.

artists have portrayed angels as corporeal beings

phenomenal applies to what is known or perceived through the senses rather than by intuition or rational deduction.

scientists concerned with the phenomenal world

sensible stresses the capability of readily or forcibly impressing the senses.

the earth's rotation is not sensible to us

objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it.

no objective evidence of damage

Examples of corporeal in a Sentence

the corporeal nature of matter

corporeal cravings such as hunger and thirst

Recent Examples on the Web

But all of Caland’s brilliantly hued canvases are also fleshy and funny and female, in ways that speak of bold corporeal pleasure. —Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025

For corporeal creatures such as humans, grappling with a universe that might not be singular, time that moves in many directions, and matter that both does and does not exist is mind-bending, to say the least. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 3 June 2025

As actual spirits, released from their corporeal form, or visions conjured up by the eyes or minds of those who see them—or something else? —Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2025

This project highlights an urgent example of how the erosion of corporeal boundaries can become alarmingly dangerous. —Jessica Simmons-Reid, Artforum, 1 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corporealle, from Latin corporeus "having a body, physical" (from corpor-, corpus "body" + -eus -eous) + -alle -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for corporeal

• incorporeal
• extracorporeal

Kids Definition

corporeal

adjective

cor·​po·​re·​al kȯr-ˈpōr-ē-əl 

-ˈpȯr-

: having, consisting of, or relating to a physical material body

corporeally

-ˈpōr-ē-ə-lē 

-ˈpȯr-

adverb

Medical Definition

corporeal

adjective

cor·​po·​re·​al kȯr-ˈpōr-ē-əl, -ˈpȯr- 

: having, consisting of, or relating to a physical material body

Legal Definition

corporeal

adjective

cor·​po·​re·​al kȯr-ˈpōr-ē-əl 

: having, consisting of, or relating to a physical material body compare incorporeal

corporeally adverb