Body vs. Bodies — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
"Body" is a singular noun referring to the physical structure of a person or animal, whereas "bodies" is its plural form, used to describe multiple such entities.
Difference Between Body and Bodies
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The term "body" refers to the single physical structure of an organism, particularly a living person or animal, emphasizing individual aspects such as health or movement. On the other hand, "bodies" is used to denote more than one such structure, often used in contexts discussing groups or statistics, such as in studies or reports.
While "body" can also metaphorically denote a main or central part, such as the body of a car or an essay, "bodies" in the plural might refer to multiple such main parts across different contexts or multiple items in different scenarios.
The singular "body" often appears in contexts focusing on personal health, fitness, or individual identity, such as "maintaining one’s body". Conversely, "bodies" is frequently used in broader, often collective contexts, such as public health discussions ("healthy bodies").
In legal or formal usage, "body" can refer to an organization or group, like "a governing body". In contrast, "bodies" can refer to multiple such groups or organizations, each acting within different capacities or locations.
When discussing deceased persons, "body" refers to the remains of one individual, while "bodies" would refer to those of multiple individuals, often used in mass casualty reports or forensic contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Number
Singular
Plural
Usage Context
Individual focus, personal
Group focus, collective
Examples in Usage
"The human body"
"Human bodies"
Extended Meanings
Can mean the core part of objects
Can mean multiple core parts
Formal References
May refer to single groups
Refers to multiple groups or entities
Compare with Definitions
Body
The physical structure of a person or animal.
The doctor examined the body to diagnose the issue.
Bodies
Plural form of body, referring to multiple people or animals.
The medical students studied the anatomies of several bodies.
Body
A distinct group or organization.
The legislative body convened to pass the new law.
Bodies
Multiple groups or organizations.
Regulatory bodies across the globe are tightening emissions standards.
Body
Used singularly to focus on one entity or individual.
She is learning how her body responds to different foods.
Bodies
In plural, commonly used in broader discussions or studies.
The researchers collected data on how diseases affect different bodies.
Body
The main part of a structure or object.
The body of the car was severely damaged in the crash.
Bodies
Used to describe multiple main parts or sections.
The exhibition featured the bodies of ancient statues.
Body
In singular, often pertains to individuality or identity.
He takes great care of his body through regular exercise.
Bodies
Often used in mass contexts or collective identities.
The community is working to ensure all bodies are cared for equally.
Body
The physical structure, including the bones, flesh, and organs, of a person or an animal
It's important to keep your body in good condition
Bodies
The entire material or physical structure of an organism, especially of a human or other animal.
Body
The main section of a motor vehicle or aircraft
The body of the aircraft was filled with smoke
The factory had produced more car bodies than needed
Bodies
The physical aspect of a person as opposed to the spirit; the flesh.
Body
The main or central part of something, especially a building or text
The main body of the house was built in 1625
Bodies
A corpse or carcass.
Body
A large amount or collection of something
Large bodies of seawater
A rich body of Canadian folklore
Bodies
The trunk or torso of a human or animal.
Body
A material object
The path taken by the falling body
Bodies
The part of a garment covering the torso.
Body
A full or substantial quality of flavour in wine
Best of all, this wine has body and finish
Bodies
A human; a person
A kindly body.
Body
A woman's close-fitting stretch garment for the upper body, fastening at the crotch.
Bodies
A group of individuals regarded as an entity; a corporation.
Body
(in pottery) a clay used for making the main part of ceramic ware, as distinct from a glaze.
Bodies
A number of persons, concepts, or things regarded as a group
We walked out in a body.
Body
Give material form to something abstract
He bodied forth the traditional Prussian remedy for all ills
Bodies
(Anatomy) The largest or principal part of an organ; corpus.
Body
Build the bodywork of (a motor vehicle)
An era when automobiles were bodied over wooden frames
Bodies
The nave of a church.
Body
The entire material or physical structure of an organism, especially of a human or other animal.
Bodies
The content of a book or document exclusive of prefatory matter, codicils, indexes, or appendices.
Body
The physical aspect of a person as opposed to the spirit; the flesh.
Bodies
The passenger- and cargo-carrying part of an aircraft, ship, or other vehicle.
Body
A corpse or carcass.
Bodies
(Music) The sound box of an instrument.
Body
The trunk or torso of a human or animal.
Bodies
A mass of matter that is distinct from other masses
A body of water.
A celestial body.
Body
The part of a garment covering the torso.
Bodies
A collection or quantity, as of material or information
The body of evidence.
Body
A human; a person
A kindly body.
Bodies
Consistency of substance, as in paint, textiles, or wine
A sauce with body.
Body
A group of individuals regarded as an entity; a corporation.
Bodies
(Printing) The part of a block of type underlying the impression surface.
Body
A number of persons, concepts, or things regarded as a group
We walked out in a body.
Bodies
To furnish with a body.
Body
(Anatomy) The largest or principal part of an organ; corpus.
Bodies
To give shape to. Usually used with forth
“Imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown” (Shakespeare).
Body
The nave of a church.
Bodies
To play defense with one's body up against (that of another player) so as to restrict the player's mobility, as in basketball.
Body
The content of a book or document exclusive of prefatory matter, codicils, indexes, or appendices.
Bodies
To collide with and force (another player) in a certain direction
Bodied him off the puck.
Body
The passenger- and cargo-carrying part of an aircraft, ship, or other vehicle.
Bodies
Plural of body.
Body
(Music) The sound box of an instrument.
Body
A mass of matter that is distinct from other masses
A body of water.
A celestial body.
Body
A collection or quantity, as of material or information
The body of evidence.
Body
Consistency of substance, as in paint, textiles, or wine
A sauce with body.
Body
(Printing) The part of a block of type underlying the impression surface.
Body
To furnish with a body.
Body
To give shape to. Usually used with forth
“Imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown” (Shakespeare).
Body
To play defense with one's body up against (that of another player) so as to restrict the player's mobility, as in basketball.
Body
To collide with and force (another player) in a certain direction
Bodied him off the puck.
Body
Physical frame.
Body
The physical structure of a human or animal seen as one single organism.
I saw them walking from a distance, their bodies strangely angular in the dawn light.
Body
The fleshly or corporeal nature of a human, as opposed to the spirit or soul.
The body is driven by desires, but the soul is at peace.
Body
A corpse.
Her body was found at four o'clock, just two hours after the murder.
Body
A person.
What's a body gotta do to get a drink around here?
Body
(sociology) A human being, regarded as marginalized or oppressed.
Body
Main section.
Body
The torso, the main structure of a human or animal frame excluding the extremities (limbs, head, tail).
The boxer took a blow to the body.
Body
The largest or most important part of anything, as distinct from its appendages or accessories.
The bumpers and front tyres were ruined, but the body of the car was in remarkable shape.
Body
(archaic) The section of a dress extending from the neck to the waist, excluding the arms.
Penny was in the scullery, pressing the body of her new dress.
Body
The content of a letter, message, or other printed or electronic document, as distinct from signatures, salutations, headers, and so on.
Body
A bodysuit.
Body
(programming) The code of a subroutine, contrasted to its signature and parameters.
In many programming languages, the method body is enclosed in braces.
Body
Coherent group.
Body
A group of people having a common purpose or opinion; a mass.
I was escorted from the building by a body of armed security guards.
Body
An organisation, company or other authoritative group.
The local train operating company is the managing body for this section of track.
Body
A unified collection of details, knowledge or information.
We have now amassed a body of evidence which points to one conclusion.
Body
Material entity.
Body
Any physical object or material thing.
All bodies are held together by internal forces.
Body
(uncountable) Substance; physical presence.
We have given body to what was just a vague idea.
Body
(uncountable) Comparative viscosity, solidity or substance (in wine, colours etc.).
The red wine, sadly, lacked body.
Body
An agglomeration of some substance, especially one that would be otherwise uncountable.
The English Channel is a body of water lying between Great Britain and France.
Body
(printing) The shank of a type, or the depth of the shank (by which the size is indicated).
A nonpareil face on an agate body
Body
(geometry) A three-dimensional object, such as a cube or cone.
Body
To give body or shape to something.
Body
To construct the bodywork of a car.
Body
(transitive) To embody.
Body
To murder someone.
Body
To utterly defeat someone.
Body
To hard counter a particular character build or play style. Frequently used in the passive voice form, get bodied by.
Body
The material organized substance of an animal, whether living or dead, as distinguished from the spirit, or vital principle; the physical person.
Absent in body, but present in spirit.
For of the soul the body form doth take.For soul is form, and doth the body make.
Body
The trunk, or main part, of a person or animal, as distinguished from the limbs and head; the main, central, or principal part, as of a tree, army, country, etc.
Who set the body and the limbsOf this great sport together?
The van of the king's army was led by the general; . . . in the body was the king and the prince.
Rivers that run up into the body of Italy.
Body
The real, as opposed to the symbolical; the substance, as opposed to the shadow.
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Body
A person; a human being; - frequently in composition; as, anybody, nobody.
A dry, shrewd kind of a body.
Body
A number of individuals spoken of collectively, usually as united by some common tie, or as organized for some purpose; a collective whole or totality; a corporation; as, a legislative body; a clerical body.
A numerous body led unresistingly to the slaughter.
Body
A number of things or particulars embodied in a system; a general collection; as, a great body of facts; a body of laws or of divinity.
Body
Any mass or portion of matter; any substance distinct from others; as, a metallic body; a moving body; an aëriform body.
By collision of two bodies, grindThe air attrite to fire.
Body
Amount; quantity; extent.
Body
That part of a garment covering the body, as distinguished from the parts covering the limbs.
Body
The bed or box of a vehicle, on or in which the load is placed; as, a wagon body; a cart body.
Body
The shank of a type, or the depth of the shank (by which the size is indicated); as, a nonpareil face on an agate body.
Body
A figure that has length, breadth, and thickness; any solid figure.
Body
Consistency; thickness; substance; strength; as, this color has body; wine of a good body.
Body
The central, longitudinal framework of a flying machine, to which are attached the planes or aërocurves, passenger accommodations, controlling and propelling apparatus, fuel tanks, etc. Also called fuselage.
As to the persons who compose the body politic or associate themselves, they take collectively the name of "people", or "nation".
Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe (=call), Mars yren (=iron), Mercurie quicksilver we clepe, Saturnus lead, and Jupiter is tin, and Venus coper.
Body
To furnish with, or as with, a body; to produce in definite shape; to embody.
Imagination bodies forthThe forms of things unknown.
Body
The entire physical structure of an organism (especially an animal or human being);
He felt as if his whole body were on fire
Body
Body of a dead animal or person;
They found the body in the lake
Body
A group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity;
The whole body filed out of the auditorium
Body
The body excluding the head and neck and limbs;
They moved their arms and legs and bodies
Body
An individual 3-dimensional object that has mass and that is distinguishable from other objects;
Heavenly body
Body
A collection of particulars considered as a system;
A body of law
A body of doctrine
A body of precedents
Body
The external structure of a vehicle;
The body of the car was badly rusted
Body
The property of holding together and retaining its shape;
When the dough has enough consistency it is ready to bake
Body
The central message of a communication;
The body of the message was short
Body
Invest with or as with a body; give body to
Common Curiosities
Can "body" be used to refer to anything other than a physical entity?
Yes, "body" can also refer to the main part of an object or a group, like a governing body.
What is the difference between "body" and "bodies"?
"Body" is singular, referring to one physical structure or entity, whereas "bodies" is the plural form, referring to more than one.
How does the meaning of "body" change in technical contexts?
In technical contexts, "body" might refer to the main part of a mechanical or structural entity.
What is a common usage of "body" in education?
In education, "body" might refer to a student body or the main content of academic work.
What does "body" imply in terms of health and fitness?
In health and fitness, "body" focuses on the individual’s physical condition, care, or aesthetic.
What nuances should one consider when choosing between "body" and "bodies"?
Choose based on number (singular or plural) and context (individual or collective focus).
Are there contexts where "body" and "bodies" have similar implications?
In contexts discussing the physical or organizational main parts, their implications might overlap, although the number differs.
How are "bodies" used in scientific contexts?
In science, "bodies" often refers to multiple organisms or entities being studied or referenced collectively.
How might "bodies" be used in health policy?
"Bodies" in health policy can refer to populations or demographic groups in studies or healthcare plans.
Is "bodies" used in legal contexts?
Yes, in legal or formal settings, "bodies" can refer to multiple groups, organizations, or governing entities.
Can "bodies" refer to celestial bodies?
Yes, "bodies" can refer to celestial bodies, like planets or stars, in astronomical contexts.
How does media use the term "bodies"?
Media might use "bodies" when reporting on issues affecting large groups of people or in disaster reporting.
What should writers consider when using "body" in literature?
Writers should consider the metaphorical potential of "body" to represent individuality or the core of something larger.
Does "body" have a metaphysical or philosophical usage?
Yes, in philosophy, "body" can refer to the physical as opposed to the spiritual or mental aspects of being.
How do cultural perceptions influence the use of "body" vs. "bodies"?
Cultural perceptions might influence these terms based on norms surrounding individualism versus collectivism.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
