disembodied

Disembodied is an adjective meaning not having a physical body or not connected with a body. It can describe beings, voices, or sensations that appear to lack corporeal form, or it can describe experiences in which the sense of self seems separated from the body.

In philosophy and cognitive science, the term is used in discussions of mind-body dualism and the possibility of consciousness existing independently of the brain. Most contemporary theories locate mental processes in neural activity, yet disembodiment remains a prominent thought experiment and is commonly invoked in debates about artificial intelligence, virtual avatars, and disembodied cognition.

Religious and folkloric traditions frequently describe disembodied beings such as spirits, angels, or ghosts that interact with the living without physical presence. In many traditions, disembodied entities are tied to the afterlife or to spiritual communication.

In clinical psychology and medicine, depersonalization and derealization refer to experiences of detachment from the body or reality. Out-of-body experiences are reported in certain states of trance, trauma, or near-death experiences.

In literature, film, and media, disembodied voices or figures are used for effect, often to suggest mystery, otherworldliness, or psychological unease.