What does incorporeality mean?
Incorporeality is the condition of not having a physical body or material existence. The term is especially associated with philosophical and theological questions about whether the soul, mind, spirit, or abstract concepts exist apart from physical matter. It can also describe the status of legal entities or imagined objects that are treated as real for some purpose without possessing material bodies. Incorporeality is more precise than the broader idea of immateriality because it focuses specifically on the absence of corporeal existence. Although relatively uncommon in everyday English, it is useful in formal discussion because it distinguishes a nonphysical form of existence from mere lack of practical importance. Its principal contemporary senses concern the incorporeality of the soul, the incorporeality of the mind, and the incorporeality of abstract or legal entities.
nounThe state of not being corporeal or having a physical, material body. It is used especially in philosophical, theological, and legal contexts.
- The state of not being corporeal or having a physical, material existence.
"The doctrine of the incorporeality of the soul has been debated for centuries."
"The treatise considered the incorporeality of the soul in relation to the physical world."
"For some philosophers, the incorporeality of abstract concepts raises questions about how language connects to reality."
Incorporeality names the peculiar status of something that exists or matters without occupying a physical body.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incorporeality come from?
The word comes from Latin incorporalis, formed from corpus, meaning “body,” together with the suffix -alis, meaning “pertaining to.” The English form incorporated this root and added the noun suffix -ity, which turns an adjective into a noun of state or quality. Its cognates include corporeal, corporal, corporate, and corpse, all of which ultimately derive from the same Latin word for “body.”
Related word forms
How incorporeality is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon term, most often found in philosophical, theological, metaphysical, or legal writing. In general usage, immateriality is often more natural and may carry a broader meaning.
Easily confused with incorporeality
Incorporeality specifically means not having a physical body, whereas immateriality more broadly refers to lacking material or tangible importance.