Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Incorporate has 8 different meanings across 2 categories:
make into a whole or make part of a whole
"She incorporated his suggestions into her proposal"
include or contain; have as a component
"A totally new idea is comprised in this paper"
"The record contains many old songs from the 1930's"
form a corporation
"The lawyers helped the group incorporate their business as an LLC to limit personal liability."
unite or merge with something already in existence
"incorporate this document with those pertaining to the same case"
To include (something) as a part.
"The new policy incorporates strict safety measures to protect every employee."
In plain English: To incorporate something means to include it as part of a larger whole.
"The new policy will incorporate feedback from employees to improve workplace safety."
formed or united into a whole
"The new neighborhood was incorporated into the city's official map last year."
Corporate; incorporated; made one body, or united in one body; associated; mixed together; combined; embodied.
"The ancient text described the soul as an incorporeal spirit that leaves the physical body at death."
Not consisting of matter; not having a material body; incorporeal; spiritual.
In plain English: Incorporated means something is built into or included as part of another thing so they become one complete whole.
"The new policy incorporates strict safety measures to protect workers."
Usage: Use the verb form "incorporate" to mean including something as an essential part, such as adding new ingredients to a recipe or merging two companies into one entity. Avoid using it when you simply need synonyms like "combine," since incorporating implies that the added element becomes integral rather than just separate components mixed together.
The word comes from the Late Latin incorporatus, meaning "to embody." It is formed by combining the prefix in- with corpus, which means "body."