corps

Corps is a term for a large organized group of people engaged in a common activity or function. The word derives from the French corps, meaning body, which itself comes from the Latin corpus. In English, corps can refer to either a body of people with a shared purpose or a major subdivision of a military or civil organization. It is typically pronounced "core," and the spelling remains corps in both singular and plural uses, though speakers may vary in applying the plural form in casual speech. When part of a proper name, corps is capitalized, as in the Marine Corps or Peace Corps.

In military use, a corps is a large formation that provides a significant level of command and support. It is usually commanded by a general and comprises two or more divisions, along with additional artillery, engineers, air, medical, and logistical units. The exact composition and size of a corps can vary by nation and period, but it generally operates as a distinct warfighting formation capable of independent planning and operations. The concept dates to Napoleonic warfare and has been a standard level of command in many armies, including those of France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others.

Beyond militaries, corps appears in civilian and organizational contexts to denote a group organized around a shared function. Examples include the Peace Corps, medical corps within armed forces, and various volunteer or professional corps. The term is also used in historical or ceremonial titles to denote specialized bodies of workers or volunteers.