What does "corporation" mean?
A body corporate, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members.
Corporation
/ˌkɔː.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A body corporate, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members.
- Grammar: corporation is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abbott, abdomen, accenture, adidas.
- Useful contrasts: solo business, arts cooperative, collective.
- Usage evidence: Your name was given to us by Mr. Hayashi of Keiyo Steel Corporation.
How to use "corporation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "corporation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "corporation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "corporation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "corporation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "corporation" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abbott" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "corporation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A body corporate, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members.
"That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired."
- 2 slang for a paunch wordnet
- 3 The municipal governing body of a borough or city.
- 4 a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state wordnet
- 5 In Fascist Italy, a joint association of employers' and workers' representatives. historical
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A protruding belly. dated, humorous, slang
"[The Rector], looming large in full canonicals, walking, as became a beneficed priest, under the canopy of a shovel-hat, with the dignity of an ample corporation, the embellishment of the squarest and vastest of black coats, and the support of the stoutest of gold-headed canes."
Proper Noun
- 1 Ellipsis of City of London Corporation. UK, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"In one respect at least the Corporation acts as the superior body: it imposes on the House of Commons a figure called the remembrancer: an official lobbyist who sits behind the Speaker's chair and ensures that, whatever our elected representatives might think, the City's rights and privileges are protected."
Antonyms
Example
"Your name was given to us by Mr. Hayashi of Keiyo Steel Corporation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "corporation"?
Common synonyms include: abbott, abdomen, accenture, adidas, agency, aktiebolag.
How do you use "corporation" in a sentence?
Your name was given to us by Mr. Hayashi of Keiyo Steel Corporation.
How do you pronounce "corporation"?
Pronounced /ˌkɔː.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English corporacion, corporation, from Late Latin corporatio (“assumption of a body”), from Latin corporatus, past participle of corporare (“to form into a body”); see corporate. (protruding belly): Perhaps a play on the word corpulence.