What does body mean?
The word 'body' primarily denotes the complete physical structure of a person or animal — bones, flesh, organs, and limbs considered as one whole. It is one of English's most versatile nouns, extending far beyond anatomy: it can refer to a corpse ('the body was recovered'), the main section of an object such as a car or email, or a group acting as a single entity, as in 'governing body' or 'the body politic'. It also names large aggregates of material, as in 'body of evidence' or 'body of literature'. Derived forms like 'embodied', 'bodily', and 'bodywork' extend its reach into philosophy, medicine, and engineering alike. Its Old English ancestor, 'bodig', is of uncertain wider origin, making it a linguistic curiosity. Few words are so ordinary and yet so indispensable, spanning everything from everyday health talk to law, politics, and science.
The complete physical structure of a person or animal, consisting of bones, flesh, and organs.
"Regular exercise keeps the body strong and resilient."
In this core sense, often paired with 'mind' or 'soul' in philosophical and medical writing.
The dead physical remains of a person or animal.
"Rescue teams recovered the body from the river at dawn."
Common in news reporting and crime fiction; register is neutral.
The principal section or framework of an object, distinct from its parts or attachments.
"Rust had eaten through the car's body beneath the doors."
Applies especially to vehicles, instruments, garments, and written works (the 'body' of a letter).
An organized group of people acting or functioning as a single unit.
"The governing body approved the new regulations unanimously."
Frequent in legal, political, and institutional contexts: legislative body, student body, review body.
Regular plural. When referring to multiple groups or organizations, 'bodies' is the natural choice ('regulatory bodies'); when referring to multiple corpses, it appears chiefly in news and forensic contexts.
"Several regulatory bodies have issued guidance on the matter."
Nobody knows where the word 'body' comes from — its Old English ancestor 'bodig' has no confirmed relatives in any other language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of body
'Body' descends from the Old English 'bodig', meaning the trunk or torso of a person or animal. The further origins of 'bodig' are genuinely uncertain: it has no widely accepted cognates elsewhere in the Germanic family, making 'body' etymologically isolated among common English words. Over the Middle English period its meaning broadened from the torso alone to the entire physical frame, and later to the figurative senses — a body of people, a body of text, a body of evidence — that dominate much of its modern usage.
Related word forms
How body is actually used
Fully standard in both British and American English across all registers. In figurative senses ('body of work', 'body of knowledge'), it denotes a substantial aggregate rather than a literal physique. The plural is regular ('bodies').
Easily confused with body
'Body' is the noun referring to the physical structure itself, while 'bodily' is an adjective meaning relating to the body.
'Body' refers to a physical structure or group, while 'buddy' means a close friend.