corpulence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Low FrequencyFormal, Literary, Medical
Quick answer
What does “corpulence” mean?
The state of being excessively fat or overweight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being excessively fat or overweight; obesity.
It denotes a notable heaviness or bulk of the body, often with implications of a large, bulky, and rounded physical frame. The term can carry formal, medical, or literary connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. The term is equally formal and low-frequency in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used in a literary or character-descriptive context. In both, it can sound somewhat old-fashioned or euphemistic.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. 'Obesity' is the dominant clinical term; 'fatness' is the dominant informal term.
Grammar
How to Use “corpulence” in a Sentence
Noun of [state/property]Suffer from corpulenceA sign of corpulenceAdjective + corpulence (e.g., increasing corpulence)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corpulence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The verb form 'corpulate' does not exist. One might 'become corpulent' or 'put on corpulence'.
- He began to corpulent in his later years. (INCORRECT - use 'grow corpulent').
American English
- The verb form 'corpulate' does not exist. One might 'become corpulent' or 'gain corpulence'.
- She started to corpulent after quitting the team. (INCORRECT - use 'become corpulent').
adverb
British English
- The adverb 'corpulently' is extremely rare and not standard. Use a phrase like 'in a corpulent manner'.
- He sat corpulently in the armchair. (HIGHLY UNUSUAL).
American English
- The adverb 'corpulently' is non-standard and should be avoided.
- She moved corpulently across the room. (NOT RECOMMENDED).
adjective
British English
- The corpulent gentleman struggled to fit into the theatre seat.
- His increasingly corpulent frame was a cause for medical concern.
American English
- The corpulent detective waddled down the alley.
- Years of poor diet had rendered him frankly corpulent.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. HR or wellness contexts would use 'obesity'.
Academic
Used in medical, historical, or literary studies texts to describe body size.
Everyday
Very rare. Would be considered a very formal or even pretentious word choice.
Technical
Used in medical or anthropological writing, though 'obesity' and 'BMI' are more precise.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corpulence”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “corpulence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corpulence”
- Misspelling as 'corpulance'.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'overweight' or 'big' would be natural.
- Pronouncing the 'p' as silent (it is pronounced).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not inherently rude, but it is formal and direct. In everyday conversation, it could sound clinical or blunt. More neutral terms like 'overweight' or 'larger build' are often preferred for politeness.
'Obesity' is a precise medical term defined by BMI. 'Corpulence' is more descriptive, often literary, and refers generally to a large, heavy body without a strict clinical threshold.
No, it is specific to the human (or sometimes animal) body. For objects, you would use 'bulk', 'size', or 'heaviness'.
No. The related adjective is 'corpulent'. To describe the process, you would use phrases like 'to become corpulent', 'to gain weight', or 'to put on corpulence' (the latter being very formal).
The state of being excessively fat or overweight.
Corpulence is usually formal, literary, medical in register.
Corpulence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔː.pjʊ.ləns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr.pjə.ləns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. Related idiom: 'to have a lot of beef on one's bones' (informal).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CORPse - a dead body. A very large, heavy body could be described with 'corpulence'. (Note: etymologically related to Latin 'corpus' meaning body).
Conceptual Metaphor
FAT IS SUBSTANCE / VOLUME (e.g., 'a man of considerable corpulence').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'corpulence' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?