Relating to a large company or group of companies. It can also describe things done by a group acting as a single body.
From Latin *corporatus* 'formed into a body', from *corpus* 'body'. It originally described groups legally treated as a single 'body'.
A corporation is literally a 'body' made of many people—same root as 'corpse' and 'incorporate.' Corporate decisions are made by this legal 'body,' which can own property, sign contracts, and be sued. That’s why people say corporations are treated almost like artificial persons under the law.
Corporate environments were historically dominated by men, especially in leadership, and corporate culture often normalized male-centered norms and exclusionary practices. Language about ‘corporate executives’ and ‘corporate leaders’ implicitly defaulted to men for much of the 20th century.
Use ‘corporate’ neutrally and avoid default male imagery when describing executives, boards, or ‘corporate culture.’ Be explicit when discussing disparities, e.g., ‘women and nonbinary people are underrepresented in corporate leadership.’
["organizational","company-level","enterprise"]
Women have long contributed to corporate growth and governance, from accounting and operations to executive roles, even when they were excluded from titles, board seats, or public recognition.
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