capacity

kuh-PA-si-tee/kəˈpæ.sɪ.ti/

9 meanings of capacity

1
how much fitsnouncountable or uncountable
How much something can hold, such as a room, a tank or an engine.
The stadium was filled to capacity for the final.
The bus has a capacity of fifty passengers.
UsageSay full to capacity or at full capacity, and a capacity of fifty people.
2
nouncountable or uncountable
The ability to do something.
She has the capacity to run a company one day.
The town lacks the capacity to house so many visitors.
UsageSay the capacity to do something.
Similarcapability, ability, power
Oppositeinability, incapacity
3
noununcountable
The most that can be made or done in a given time.
The bakery runs at full capacity before the holidays.
New machines doubled the plant's capacity.
UsageSay a factory works at full capacity when it makes as much as it can.
Similarmaximum
4
rolenouncountable
The job or role someone is acting in.
She spoke in her capacity as team captain.
He attended the meeting in an official capacity.
UsageSay in a capacity: in her capacity as captain, in an official capacity.
Similarrole, position, function
Note
5
nouncountable or uncountable
A natural ability in a person's mind, such as being able to learn something well.
She has a great capacity for learning new languages.
Teachers should not judge a student's capacity from one bad year.
UsageSay a capacity for something, or the capacity to do something.
Note
6
absorbnouncountable or uncountable
The ability to hold or take in something.
A sponge has a great capacity for soaking up water.
This fabric has a high capacity for taking in dye.
UsageSay a capacity to hold, or a capacity for holding.
Note
7
legally ablenoununcountable
The legal power to do something, such as sign a contract or make an arrest.
A child does not have the capacity to sign a contract.
A ten-year-old does not have the legal capacity to sign a contract.
UsageSay someone has or lacks the capacity to sign or decide something.
Similarcompetence, authority
Oppositeincapacity

Less common meanings

8
adjective
Filling all the space there is.
The band played to a capacity crowd.
The ferry left the island with a capacity load of cars.
UsageUsed before a noun: a capacity crowd.
Similarfull, packed
9
noundated
An older word for capacitance, the ability to store electric charge.

Practice

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Origin

It came through Old French from Latin capax, meaning 'able to hold much', from capio, 'to hold or take'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Capacity came through Old French and ultimately derives from Latin capax, through the intermediate Latin noun capācitās. en.wiktionary.org
Latin capax means able to hold much. en.wiktionary.org
Latin capax derives from capio, which means hold or take. en.wiktionary.org