Etymology The adjective is first attested in 1429, the noun in 1849; from Middle English corporat(e) (“(if a true adjective) corporeal, physical, embodied; (participle/participial adjective) incorporated; corporated, constituted as a legal corporation”, used as the past participle of corporaten), from Latin corporātus, perfect passive participle of corporō (“to make into a body”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from corpus (“body”, oblique stem in corp-) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). The noun was derived by substantivization from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
1
Of or relating to an institution.
The one on Seventh Street is a corporate franchise.
But electric vehicles and the batteries that made them run became ensnared in corporate scandals, fraud, and monopolistic corruption that shook the confidence of the nation and inspired automotive upstarts.2006, Edwin Black, chapter 1, in Internal Combustion:
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Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet. Perhaps we assume that our name, address and search preferences will be viewed by some unseen pair of corporate eyes, probably not human, and don't mind that much.2013 June 14, Jonathan Freedland, “Obama's once hip brand is now tainted”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 18:
2
Formed into a institution; incorporated.
3
Unified into one body; collective.
the corporate authorship of the working group
They answer in a joint and corporate voice.c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
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I believe in the body of Christ, and the regular assembly of believers, the importance of the sacraments, and the need for corporate worship.2021 [2001], John Eldredge, “John Answers Your Wild at Heart Questions”, in Wild at Heart, Expanded edition, Nelson Books, →ISBN, page 218:
4
Colloquial Soulless and inoffensive; sanitized and sterile, like a design from an institution.
It's not that their interior decorating is horrible; it's just that, well, it's so corporate.
Etymology The adjective is first attested in 1429, the noun in 1849; from Middle English corporat(e) (“(if a true adjective) corporeal, physical, embodied; (participle/participial adjective) incorporated; corporated, constituted as a legal corporation”, used as the past participle of corporaten), from Latin corporātus, perfect passive participle of corporō (“to make into a body”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from corpus (“body”, oblique stem in corp-) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). The noun was derived by substantivization from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
So-called junk corporates and emerging-market debt remain generally out of favor.2009 January 11, Robert D. Hershey Jr., “Look Past 2008 Stars for Gains in Bonds”, in New York Times:
2
A short film produced for internal use in a business, e.g. for training, rather than for a general audience.
Currently there are 19 members, who are all in Spotlight and belong to Equity. Areas of work include theatre, musicals, television, film, commercials, corporates and voiceovers.2013, Simon Dunmore, Actors' Yearbook 2014:
3
Business An institution that franchises, as opposed to an individual franchise.
BusinessInformal The higher managerial echelons of an institution.
it came down from corporate
The work could be rewarding, but corporate is micro-managing everything.
corporate
verb
UK /ˈkɔː.pə.ɹeɪt/ · US /ˈkɔɹ.pəɹ.eɪt/
Etymology First attested in 1398; from Middle English corporaten (“to incorporate, assimilate; to constitute as a legal corporation”), either from corporat(e) (“(if a true adjective) corporeal, physical”, also used as the past participle of corporaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix) or directly from Latin corporātus + -en, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.