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corporate

/ˈkɔːp(ə)ɹət/

In modern conversation, "corporate" is often used to describe the culture of large businesses. When people say something feels "too corporate," they usually mean it is cold, impersonal, or overly formal. It can be used as a noun in informal settings (e.g., "working for corporate") to refer to the headquarters or the top-level executives of a company.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Karen is frantically organizing a school fundraiser via her phone.
Eleanor Smith

KAREN WHY IS THE BAKE SALE SO CORPORATE NOW? WHERE ARE THE HOMEMADE COOKIES?

Eleanor Smith
Karen Smith
Karen Smith

It's called branding, Eleanor. Get with the program.

💡
Eleanor is criticizing the overly professional and commercialized nature of the school event using 'corporate'. Karen responds with the idiom 'get with the program', meaning to adapt to the current way of doing things or accept a new set of rules/expectations.

Meanings

adjective

Relating to a large company or group.

"The firm is moving toward a more corporate structure to handle international growth."

adjective

Formed into a legal corporation; constituting a single entity.

"The organization's corporate identity was rebranded last year."

adjective

Shared by all members of a group; collective.

"The board expressed their corporate responsibility to the environment."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error