Body
Body noun - The main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts.
Usage example: the body of the novel was quite good, even if the beginning was a bit slow
Matter is a synonym for body in substance topic. In some cases you can use "Matter" instead a noun "Body", when it comes to topics like bulk, main part.
Matter
Matter noun - A major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition).
Usage example: that is not relevant to the matter under discussion
Body is a synonym for matter in substance topic. Sometimes you can use "Body" instead a noun "Matter", if it concerns topics such as thing, significance.
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
- Later elaborations of Aristotelian philosophy distinguished between Corpus (body/matter,) Animus (animal life energy) and Spiritus (consciousness/soul.)
Source: Anatomy of the Soul -
Although not working as true precognition, it allows them to sense harmful intent in another person, no matter how well hidden by body language.
Source: Spider-Sense -
It won't matter if the robot's body is repaired and given a new chip, since it will just be a new robot's mind inside the body.
Source: Comic Book / Mega Man
Cite this Source
Matter and Body. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/body/matter
Body & Matter. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/body/matter>.
Matter or Body. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/body/matter.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "body" and "matter" have occurred on timeline