What does corps mean?
A corps is a large, formally organized body of people, most often within a military context. In armies, a corps is a major tactical formation made up of two or more divisions, numbering tens of thousands of soldiers; in another sense, it designates a specialized branch of an armed service, such as the Medical Corps or Signal Corps. Beyond the military, the word extends to any structured professional group — journalists form the press corps, diplomats belong to a country's diplomatic corps, and volunteers serve in the Peace Corps. Borrowed directly from French, where it means 'body,' the word ultimately traces back to Latin 'corpus.' Notably, its pronunciation never changes: whether one corps or several corps, it sounds exactly like 'core.' The term conveys discipline, coordination, and collective purpose, making it a precise choice when describing organized institutional bodies rather than loose assemblies of individuals.
A large military unit consisting of two or more divisions, or a specialized branch of an armed service.
"The Third Corps advanced at dawn under heavy artillery fire."
In this sense, corps is usually part of a proper noun and capitalized, e.g. the Army Air Corps.
An organized body of people engaged together in a particular profession, service, or activity.
"The diplomatic corps was invited to the state banquet."
Common in set phrases such as press corps, officer corps, and corps de ballet.
The plural is spelled identically to the singular; only context indicates number, since the pronunciation stays the same (/kɔːr/).
"Several corps were deployed to the region during the conflict."
Despite its silent 'p' and 's', 'corps' is pronounced exactly like 'core' — and it's borrowed wholesale from French, where it simply means 'body'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of corps
The word 'corps' entered English from French at the end of the sixteenth century, borrowed directly from the French 'corps' meaning 'body.' The French word itself descends from the Latin 'corpus,' meaning body — the same root that gives English 'corpse' (originally any body, later specifically a dead one), 'corporate' (formed into one body), and 'corpulent' (large-bodied). Its use for organized groups of people reflects the metaphor of a unit acting as a single living body.
How corps is actually used
Always pronounced /kɔːr/, identical in singular and plural — only the spelling changes. The final 'ps' is silent, following French pronunciation. In capitalized form (e.g. Peace Corps, Marine Corps) it names a specific organization. The word carries a formal register and connotes disciplined, coordinated service.
Easily confused with corps
A corpse is a dead body, while a corps (pronounced identically in the plural) is an organized body of people, especially a military or professional group.