incorporate
/ɪnˈkɔː.pər.eɪt/- 1.
To take something and make it a part of a larger whole. The thing you add becomes built into the structure, not just placed beside it.
- The architect incorporated natural light into every room of the building.
- Try to incorporate specific data when you write your IELTS essay.
- The new software update incorporates several user-requested features.
- 2.
In business or legal language, to officially register a company as a corporation, giving it legal status as a separate entity.
- They incorporated the business in Mumbai before launching the product.
- The founders decided to incorporate early to protect their personal assets.
Adinary Nuance
"Incorporate" is often confused with "include" and "integrate," but each word does something slightly different. "Include" simply means something is present — it is the most neutral of the three. "Incorporate" goes further: it implies the added element has been actively woven into the whole, becoming part of its structure or design. "Integrate" is the closest neighbor; both suggest deliberate blending, but "integrate" emphasizes two roughly equal parts merging smoothly, while "incorporate" usually means one thing is absorbed into a larger, existing whole. In academic and IELTS writing, choosing "incorporate" over "include" signals that an idea or piece of evidence has been thoughtfully built into the argument — not just dropped in.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Kết hợp / tích hợp
- Spanish
- Incorporar
- Chinese
- 纳入
- Japanese
- 取り入れる
- Korean
- 통합하다
Etymology
From Latin "incorporare," meaning "to unite into one body," formed from "in-" (into) plus "corpus" (body). It entered English in the late 14th century, first used in legal and scholarly writing.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'incorporate' and 'include'?
- 'Include' simply means something is present as part of a group or list. 'Incorporate' means something has been actively built into a whole — it feels more deliberate and structural. In an essay, you include a quote, but you incorporate an idea into your argument.
- Is 'incorporate' a formal word?
- Yes. 'Incorporate' is formal and is most at home in academic writing, business reports, and official documents. In casual speech, people usually say 'add' or 'put in' instead.
- Can I use 'incorporate' in IELTS Writing Task 2?
- Absolutely — it is excellent vocabulary for Task 2. Phrases like 'incorporate evidence' or 'incorporate a range of perspectives' demonstrate precision and a strong command of academic English.
- What does 'incorporated' mean after a company name, like 'ABC Inc.'?
- 'Inc.' is short for 'Incorporated,' meaning the company has been legally registered as a corporation. This gives the business a separate legal identity from its owners.