incorporate

Incorporate is a verb with several related meanings. It can mean to include something as part of a larger whole or to blend elements into a mixture, as in incorporating feedback into a plan or incorporating flour into dough. It can also mean to form a corporation, creating a legally recognized entity that is separate from its owners.

In business law, to incorporate means to establish a corporation. The process typically involves filing articles of incorporation or a charter with the appropriate government authority, selecting a corporate name, appointing a registered agent, and adopting bylaws. Once incorporated, the entity is a distinct legal person that can own property, enter contracts, sue or be sued, and incur liabilities separate from its shareholders or members. Corporate status affects governance, taxation, and regulatory compliance, and it often provides limited liability to owners, subject to certain exceptions such as piercing the corporate veil.

Other uses of the term emphasize integration or inclusion. A project manager might incorporate new technology into a workflow, or a recipe might require incorporating eggs into batter. The broad sense is adding something into a larger system so that it becomes part of the whole.

Etymology and related forms: incorporate comes from Latin incorporare, from in- “into” + corpus “body.” Related terms include incorporation (the act or result of incorporating) and corporate (relating to a corporation). In American English, “incorporate” commonly refers to forming a corporation; in general usage, it also means to integrate or include something within a larger context.