corpulence

Everyday

(formal, old-fashioned) Corpulence is being very fat or heavy in the body. tree →

In the lessons

A formal or old-fashioned word, found in old stories and in medical or polite descriptions. In health lessons today people say «obesity» or «being overweight». It describes rather than insults, but talking about someone's body can still be unkind.

Examples

• The old king's corpulence made it hard for him to ride. tree →
• In the story, the cook's corpulence was described in detail. tree →
• Doctors once used «corpulence» for being very overweight. tree →
• Corpulence can be linked to health problems. tree →
• The portrait hid the duke's corpulence. tree →
• He joked about his own corpulence. tree →

Note

Formal; adjective «corpulent». Commenting on other people's weight is usually rude; be kind.