corpse
C1Formal, medical, legal, police, literary. Neutral in everyday use when referring to a dead body.
Definition
Meaning
A dead human body, especially one that is to be examined, buried, or cremated.
Metaphorically, something that is lifeless, inert, or has ceased to function effectively.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Corpse" specifically refers to a human body. The term "carcass" is used for dead animals. "Remains" is a more formal or euphemistic synonym.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or primary usage. Spelling is identical. The related word 'mortician' is primarily US, 'undertaker' is UK.
Connotations
Equally direct and potentially graphic in both varieties. Slightly less clinical/more everyday than 'cadaver'.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties in appropriate contexts (e.g., news, police reports, fiction).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (the corpse of the victim)ADJ + N (a decaying corpse)V + N (discover a corpse)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “corpse flower (plant)”
- “to corpse (theatrical slang: to break character by laughing)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might occur in forensic or security services contexts.
Academic
Common in forensic medicine, archaeology, anthropology, and history.
Everyday
Used in news reports, crime dramas, and general discussion of death.
Technical
Standard term in pathology, forensic science, and mortuary services.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The actor corpsed on stage during the serious scene.
American English
- She completely corpsed when her co-star made a funny face.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police found a corpse in the forest.
- The corpse was taken to the morgue for identification.
- Forensic experts examined the badly decomposed corpse for clues.
- The legal definition of a corpse hinges on the irreversible cessation of brain function.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CORPse' as the 'CORP' (body) you see in 'CORPorate' (a body of people) but for a single, lifeless human body.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER EMPTY OF LIFE ('The corpse was just an empty shell'). A THING/Object ('They treated the corpse like luggage').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'corpus' (корпус, a collection of texts).
- The Russian 'труп' is a direct equivalent in core meaning.
- Avoid using 'carcass' (туша) for humans; it is for animals.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the silent 'p' (incorrect: /kɔːrpsə/).
- Using 'corpse' for dead animals (use 'carcass').
- Misspelling as 'corpes'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most contextually appropriate synonym for 'corpse' in a medical report?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, specifically for a dead human body. For animals, the correct term is 'carcass'.
'Body' can refer to both living and dead organisms. 'Corpse' unambiguously means a dead body, especially one prepared for burial or examination.
It is direct and can be graphic, but it is the standard, factual term in legal, medical, and journalistic contexts. In sensitive personal situations, euphemisms like 'remains' or 'the deceased' are preferred.
Yes, but only in very specific theatrical slang, meaning 'to break character by laughing unintentionally on stage.' This usage is informal.