main body
B2Formal / Semi-Formal
Definition
Meaning
The largest, most important, or central part of a group, object, text, or structure.
The principal group of people, troops, or vehicles; the majority of a written work (e.g., an essay); the central structural section of an aircraft or ship; the dominant collective within an organisation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions as a countable compound noun. While 'body' can imply a physical object, in phrases like 'main body of the text' or 'main body of opinion', it refers to an abstract collective mass or the substantive part of something non-physical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. In military contexts, both use the term. In academic writing, both refer to the 'main body' of an essay. No significant divergence.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, carrying formal or technical connotations depending on context (e.g., academic, military, engineering).
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English in formal writing and specific technical domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
of + NOUN (specifying the entity)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Main body of work (an artist's or scholar's primary output).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the core workforce or the principal section of a report: 'The main body of the proposal outlines the financial projections.'
Academic
The central chapters or sections between the introduction and conclusion: 'The main body of the dissertation presents the original research.'
Everyday
Less common; used for the largest part of a physical group: 'The main body of hikers set off an hour before us.'
Technical
The central fuselage of an aircraft or hull of a ship: 'Engineers inspected the main body of the spacecraft for damage.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The main body of the committee voted against the motion.
- After the preface, the main body of the book delves into the historical context.
American English
- The main body of the treaty outlines the terms of agreement.
- Repairs were focused on the main body of the vehicle.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The main body of the ship is very big.
- Read the main body of the story.
- The main body of the report is on page five.
- We waited for the main body of tourists to pass.
- The main body of the article presents a compelling new theory.
- The general stayed with the main body of the troops.
- While the introduction was provocative, the main body of the thesis lacked substantive original analysis.
- The main body of shareholders endorsed the board's radical restructuring plan.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a document: the INTRODUCTION is the head, the CONCLUSION is the feet, and the MAIN BODY is the torso—the biggest, most substantial part.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN OBJECT/ORGANISM IS A TEXT/ORGANIZATION (the 'body' of the text; the 'body' of the organisation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'главное тело'. For text, use 'основная часть'. For a group of people, 'основная масса' or 'ядро'. For troops, 'основные силы'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'main body' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'much main body' – incorrect). Using it for abstract concepts where 'core' or 'essence' is better (e.g., 'the main body of his argument' is acceptable, but 'the core of his argument' is more idiomatic).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'main body' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it often refers to abstract collections, like 'the main body of evidence' or 'the main body of public opinion'.
Sometimes, but 'body' is vaguer. 'Main body' specifies the largest/most important part. In essay writing, 'body' is standard (e.g., 'body paragraphs'), but 'main body' emphasises the core section versus appendices.
Yes, but it's rare. It would refer to multiple distinct principal groups or sections, e.g., 'The two main bodies of the United Nations are the General Assembly and the Security Council.'
They are often synonyms, but 'bulk' strongly emphasises mass, volume, or quantity, often implying the remainder is insignificant. 'Main body' can also imply structural or organisational centrality, not just size.