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.

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 James Dixson and Kevin McKinney, both 42, are accused of capital murder, arson, abuse of a corpse and possession of a firearm by a certain person, according to Pine Bluff Police Department Lt. David DeFoor. — I.c. Murrell, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2022 The church is owned by Shawnte Hardin, 41, who faces 44 counts including racketeering, tampering with records, identity fraud and abuse of a corpse in Lucas County, over 100 miles from Akron. — Fox News, 15 Jan. 2022 Christine is leaning so hard into victimhood she was just cast as the corpse in the first scene of SVU for the entire 48th season. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2021 Leaving a corpse and deceptions in his wake, Curt teams up separately with Ronald to profit from the turmoil. — Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 1 July 2021 North Koreans, wearing gas masks and protective suits due to Covid-19 protocols, poured gas on Mr. Lee’s corpse and burned the body, according to the Defense Ministry’s investigation, which involved North Korean communications. — Dasl Yoon, WSJ, 30 July 2022 He is charged with murder and tampering with evidence, specifically a corpse, in the death of Taylor Pomaski, the district attorney’s office said. — Phil Helsel, NBC News, 29 July 2022 Kevin Ware, who played tight end in 2003 and 2004 for Washington and San Francisco, is also charged with tampering with evidence, specifically a corpse, in the death of Taylor Pomaski. — Chron, 28 July 2022 In Baghdad, a scavenger named Hadi collects various body parts and sews them together to create a corpse. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, ELLE, 27 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'corpse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.