noun C1 Advanced Common

corps

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Corps (noun) means a large military unit made up of two or more divisions. Example: “The general ordered the whole corps to move north before the river flooded.”

noun

A large military unit made up of two or more divisions.

"The general ordered the whole corps to move north before the river flooded."

"Each corps in the army had its own commander and supply lines."

"The corps advanced under cover of darkness."

A group of people organized for a shared purpose.

"A volunteer corps of retired teachers helps children with reading at the local library."

"She joined the Peace Corps after graduating."

"The press corps waited outside the courtroom."

How to use corps

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA large organized group, especially in the military, or any team united by a common role.

Common mistake

The "p" and "s" are both silent — it's pronounced like "core". Don't confuse with "corpse" (a dead body), which is spelled almost the same but pronounced differently.

Easily confused with

corpse →

Common pairings

press corps diplomatic corps army corps

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Test yourself on “corps” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The general ordered the whole _____ to move north before the river flooded.

Etymology

From French corps, "body," from Latin corpus. A doublet of "corpse" and "corpus" — all three trace to the same Latin word.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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unit contingent brigade squad body regiment

Related words

one team person whole course body text independent

Rhymes for corps

Harps

See all rhymes for corps →

Frequently asked questions

What does “corps” mean?

The word “corps” means a large military unit made up of two or more divisions. In plain terms, a large organized group, especially in the military, or any team united by a common role.

How do you use “corps” in a sentence?

Here is “corps” used in a sentence: “The corps advanced under cover of darkness.”

What part of speech is “corps”?

“Corps” is a noun.

Where does the word “corps” come from?

The word “corps” comes from Latin. From French corps, "body," from Latin corpus. A doublet of "corpse" and "corpus" — all three trace to the same Latin word.

Is “corps” a common word?

“Corps” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “corps” have?

“Corps” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large military unit made up of two or more divisions.

What is the difference between "corps" and "corpse"?

A corps is a large military unit or an organized group of people, while a corpse is a dead body. The two are unrelated in meaning despite their similar spelling, and "corps" ends in a silent "ps" whereas "corpse" sounds out its ending clearly.

What is the difference between "corps" and "core"?

Corps and core sound alike but mean different things: a corps is an organized body of people, such as the Marine Corps or the press corps, while a core is the central or most important part of something, like the core of an apple. They should not be confused in writing.

How do you form the plural of "corps"?

The plural of "corps" is also spelled "corps"; the word does not change form for singular or plural. Surrounding words show the number, as in "one corps" versus "two corps."

What are common phrases that use "corps"?

Common collocations include "Marine Corps," "press corps," "diplomatic corps," "army corps," and "corps de ballet." In each, "corps" names a group organized for a shared purpose.

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