# corporal

/ˈkɔɹpɝəɫ/ (US) · /kˈɔːpɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/corporal
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. military rank

noun · CEFR B2

a low-level officer in the army, above a private but below a sergeant.

For teachers: a non-commissioned officer rank in many armies, typically corresponding to NATO grade OR-4.

- After three years of service, he was finally promoted to corporal.
- The corporal was responsible for leading a small squad of soldiers during the training exercise in the mountains.

### 2. relating to the body

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

related to the physical human body.

For teachers: pertaining to the physical body, especially the human body, as opposed to the mind or spirit.

- Many countries have banned corporal punishment in schools.
- The legal debate focused on whether corporal punishment was an effective deterrent or simply a violation of human rights.

Usage: almost always used before a noun, especially in the phrase 'corporal punishment'.

### 3. church cloth

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a special white cloth used during a Christian church service.

For teachers: the white linen cloth upon which the elements of the Eucharist are placed during the liturgy.

- The priest carefully folded the corporal after the service was over.
- The sacristan was tasked with laundering the corporal and other sacred linens used during the high mass.

## Examples

- The corporal gave the soldiers their orders for the morning.
- After three years of service, she was promoted to corporal and took charge of her first squad.
- The corporal was responsible for ensuring that the junior enlisted personnel maintained their equipment according to the strict standards of the infantry division.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.