What does corpulence mean?
Corpulence is a formal noun denoting the condition of being excessively fat; it is essentially a loftier synonym for obesity. The word derives from the Latin 'corpulentus,' meaning fleshy or bulky, itself built on 'corpus,' meaning body. In contemporary English, corpulence is comparatively rare and carries a distinctly literary, historical, or mildly satirical flavor: one might encounter it describing a portly Victorian merchant, a well-fed monarch in a biography, or a character in a Dickensian novel. Because it sounds weightier and more old-fashioned than neutral terms like 'overweight' or clinical terms like 'obesity,' writers often choose it for comic effect, period atmosphere, or gentle mockery. Its adjective form, 'corpulent,' is somewhat better known and likewise conveys stoutness with a touch of formality or humor. While perfectly respectable, the word should be used with care in sensitive contexts, since labeling someone's body size can cause offence; it is best reserved for descriptions of figures in fiction, history, or general observation rather than direct personal commentary.
nounThe condition of being excessively fat; obesity or stoutness of body.
- Excessive fatness of the body; the state of being overweight or obese, especially in a pronounced or conspicuous way.
"Despite his advancing corpulence, the old admiral still insisted on climbing the ship's rigging each morning."
"The portrait captured the cardinal's corpulence in unflinching detail, every fold of his rich robes straining at the seams."
"Doctors warned that his increasing corpulence placed dangerous strain on his heart."
Corpulence is almost always used as an uncountable mass noun; a plural form exists grammatically but is rare and generally limited to references to distinct instances or types of fatness.
"The physician's notes catalogued various corpulences among his aristocratic patients."
Corpulence shares its Latin root with 'corpse' — both come from 'corpus,' the body — making it literally a word about what your body has become.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of corpulence
Corpulence entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French, deriving from the Latin 'corpulentus,' meaning fleshy or fat, which combines 'corpus' (body) with the suffix '-ulentus' (abounding in). It thus literally means 'abounding in body.' The same Latin root 'corpus' gives English a wide family of words including corporal, corps, corpse, corpuscle, and incorporate, all sharing the underlying idea of the body or a body of something.
Related word forms
How corpulence is actually used
Corpulence is a formal, somewhat literary or clinical term. It carries a more elevated or old-fashioned tone than everyday words like 'obesity' or 'being overweight,' and in modern usage it can sound judgmental or quaint depending on context. It appears most often in historical writing, satire, and descriptive prose rather than in medical literature.
Easily confused with corpulence
Corporeal means relating to the physical body or material things, while corpulence refers specifically to excessive body fat.