corpus
KAW-puhs
Corpus (noun) means a large collection of written or spoken material, especially one used for language study. Example: “Linguists analyzed word frequency using a corpus of news articles.”
noun
1
A large collection of written or spoken material, especially one used for language study.
"Linguists analyzed word frequency using a corpus of news articles."
"The corpus contains millions of transcribed conversations."
"Students can search the corpus to see how real speakers use a phrase."
2
The main body or bulk of something.
"The corpus of his writing spans four decades."
How to use corpus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large gathered body of texts or work, often used for research.
Common pairings
text corpus
linguistic corpus
corpus of work
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like corpus.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- corpora, corpuses, corpusses, corpi
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Linguists analyzed word frequency using a _____ of news articles.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from Latin corpus, "body." A doublet of "corpse" and "corps".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “corpus” mean?
The word “corpus” means a large collection of written or spoken material, especially one used for language study. In plain terms, a large gathered body of texts or work, often used for research.
How do you pronounce “corpus”?
“Corpus” is pronounced KAW-puhs (/ˈkɔɹpəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “corpus” in a sentence?
Here is “corpus” used in a sentence: “Linguists analyzed word frequency using a corpus of news articles.”
What part of speech is “corpus”?
“Corpus” is a noun.
Where does the word “corpus” come from?
The word “corpus” comes from Latin. Borrowed directly from Latin corpus, "body." A doublet of "corpse" and "corps".
Is “corpus” a common word?
“Corpus” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “corpus” have?
“Corpus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large collection of written or spoken material, especially one used for language study.
What is the difference between a "corpus" and a "database"?
A corpus is specifically a large collection of written or spoken material, especially one compiled for language study, whereas a database is a broader term for any organized collection of data, not necessarily language. Linguists use a corpus to analyze patterns in real language use, such as word frequency or grammar trends.
What does "corpus" mean outside of linguistics?
Outside linguistics, "corpus" can refer more generally to the main body or bulk of something, such as a body of work, evidence, or knowledge on a subject. This broader sense is common in legal, academic, and general writing.
Is "corpus" a singular or plural word?
"Corpus" is singular; its plural form is "corpora." This Latin-derived pattern is important to get right in academic or linguistic writing, where referring to multiple text collections requires the plural "corpora."
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include corpus:
