ENGLISH
REFERENCE

corps

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈkɔɹ// corps Archaic

n. a large group of people who work together for a specific purpose, often in the military or a professional organization.

n. a specialized branch of the military or a structured body of people engaged in a common activity. The final 's' is silent in the singular form but pronounced in the plural.


SIMPLE

He joined the marine corps after finishing school.

CONTEXTUAL

The press corps waited outside the building for hours to get a statement from the president.

COMPLEX

The diplomatic corps serves as a vital link between nations, ensuring that communication remains open even during periods of significant political tension.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From French corps d'armée (literally “army body”), from Latin corpus (“body”). Doublet of corpse and corpus. See also English riff.

Etymology 2

Clipping.

Usage

The singular form is pronounced /kɔːr/ and the plural is pronounced /kɔːrz/. Often followed by a specific name or function.

Pitfall

the peace corpthe peace corpsThe word 'corps' must include the 's' even in its singular form; 'corp' is an abbreviation for corporation.

Idioms1 entry

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