corpulence

IPA/ˈkɔːpjələns/
IPA/ˈkɔːrpjələns/

corpulence — noun

1. a formal word for having a very large body because too much fat has built up

1.nounC2
Definition

a formal word for having a very large body because too much fat has built up

Example

The old novel describes Caleb's corpulence as proof of a life of ease.

formal literary description of body size

Years of rich dinners added to Mayor Hugo's corpulence.

Common collocations
  • marked corpulence
  • growing corpulence
  • remark on someone's corpulence
  • struggle with corpulence
Synonyms
  • obesity

    the standard medical term, especially when health risk is the focus

  • overweight

    more everyday and often less severe in meaning

  • stoutness

    old-fashioned and softer, often suggesting a thick or solid build

Antonyms
  • slimness

    the state of having a narrow or lightly built body

  • leanness

    suggests little body fat, often with a healthy or athletic tone

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Formal and slightly old-fashioned; it appears more often in novels or description than in everyday speech. It usually describes a person's overall build, not a medical diagnosis.

Common Mistakes

The doctor diagnosed him with corpulence.
The doctor diagnosed him with obesity.
corpulence is a descriptive formal word, not the usual medical diagnosis.
She is very corpulence.
She is very corpulent.
corpulence is a noun, while corpulent is the adjective.

Word family

  • corpulent
    adjectiveC2
  • corpulently
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words point to having more body fat than is wanted, but they sound very different. 'Overweight' is the everyday neutral term and fits ordinary talk about health. 'Obesity' is the standard medical and public-health word, especially when doctors or reports discuss risk. 'Corpulence' is more formal and slightly old-fashioned, so it often appears in novels or descriptive writing about a person's build. 'Stoutness' can sound gentler and may suggest a thick, solid body rather than a clinical problem. A doctor would usually write 'obesity', a friend might say 'overweight', and a novelist might mention a merchant's 'corpulence'. If the focus is diagnosis, choose 'obesity'; if the focus is narrative description, 'corpulence' fits better.

corpulence ↗obesity ↗overweight ↗stoutness

Common collocations

Nouns

  • marked corpulence
  • growing corpulence

Phrases

  • remark on someone's corpulence
  • struggle with corpulence

Prepositions

  • corpulence in old age

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Entered English through French 'corpulence', from Latin 'corpulentia', which was built on 'corpulentus' meaning 'stout' or 'fleshy'. The Latin family goes back to 'corpus', meaning 'body'. In English, the word has long sounded more formal and literary than plain words such as 'fatness' or 'overweight'.