corporal
gb/kˈɔɹpɚəl/ us/kˈɔɹpɚəl/
B1
English
~ 9000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
low-ranking military officer
A low-ranking officer in the army or air force, higher than a private but lower than a sergeant.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a corporal in [a military unit]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "corporal" with other military ranks like "colonel" or "captain." "Corporal" is a relatively low rank, usually just above private. Also, the pronunciation is /ˈkɔːrprəl/, not *co-RO-ral*.
Synonyms
non-commissioned officer (More general and formal; refers to all lower-ranking officers, not just corporals.)
Antonyms
civilian (Someone who is not in the armed forces, the opposite role in a military vs. non-military context.)
Collocations
army corporal
|police corporal
|promoted to corporal
|corporal rank
|staff corporal
|lance corporal
Themes
military
|work
|society
Examples
- She served as a corporal in the infantry for four years.
- After basic training he was promoted to corporal.
- The corporal ordered the squad to take cover.
- Corporal Davis will be in charge of your unit during the exercise.
- As a young corporal, he learned how to lead soldiers under pressure.
Learner examples
- My brother is a corporal in the army.
- The corporal told the new soldiers what to do.
- He worked hard and became a corporal last year.
- The corporal stayed with his team during the long march.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
relating to the body
About the body, not the mind or spirit.
Usage pattern:
corporal [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "corporal" with "corporate" (related to companies) or with the noun "corporal" (military rank). As an adjective, "corporal" almost always appears in formal phrases like "corporal punishment."
Synonyms
bodily (Very close in meaning and slightly more common in everyday English.)
|
physical (Broader and more common; used in many contexts, not just about the body.)
Antonyms
spiritual (Relating to the spirit or soul instead of the body.)
|
mental (Relating to the mind instead of the body.)
Collocations
corporal punishment
|corporal needs
|corporal existence
|corporal suffering
|corporal pain
Themes
health
|law
|education
|body
Examples
- The school strictly forbids any form of corporal punishment.
- Prisoners reported both psychological and corporal abuse.
- The law aims to protect children from corporal violence at home.
- Some religious traditions emphasize fasting and other forms of corporal discipline.
- She argued that corporal suffering does not justify cruel treatment.
Learner examples
- Many countries do not allow corporal punishment in schools.
- Corporal pain is pain in the body, not in the mind.
- The teacher lost his job because he used corporal punishment.
- Corporal injuries can heal, but mental injuries can last longer.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
Eucharistic altar cloth
In some Christian churches, a white cloth on the altar that holds the bread and wine during the service.
Usage pattern:
spread the corporal on [the altar]
Synonyms
altar cloth (More general; can refer to any cloth on the altar, not specifically the square Eucharistic corporal.)
Antonyms
n/a (There is no natural opposite term for this specific liturgical object.)
Collocations
linen corporal
|fold the corporal
|spread the corporal
|altar corporal
|chalice and corporal
Themes
religion
|ritual
Examples
- The priest carefully unfolded the corporal before placing the chalice on the altar.
- After Mass, the deacon reverently folded the corporal and put it away.
- A clean corporal must be used for each celebration of the Eucharist.
Learner examples
- The corporal is a special cloth used in church.
- The priest puts the bread and wine on the corporal.
- They washed the corporal and kept it in a safe place.
Grammar
Dictionary form
corporal
IPA
GB/kˈɔɹpɚəl/
US/kˈɔɹpɚəl/
Syllables & stress
cor - por - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: corporal
Noun
- Base: corporal
- Plural: corporals
Word family
Forms
corporals
noun
Related words
corps
noun B2
Advanced or less common
corporeal
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
incorporeal
adjective
Expressions
corporal punishment
1/kˈɔɹpɚəl pˈʌnɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
physical punishment to the body
Punishment that uses physical force and causes pain to a person’s body, for example hitting or spanking.
Examples
- Most schools now ban corporal punishment.
- Many countries have banned corporal punishment of children in schools.
- The law strictly forbids corporal punishment of prisoners.
- The report calls for an end to all forms of corporal punishment in the home.
- Parents are divided over whether corporal punishment is ever acceptable.
- Supporters of corporal punishment argue that it can be an effective deterrent, while critics say it is abusive.