capital

KAP-i-tuhl/ˈkæpɪtəl/

16 meanings of capital

1
city (government)nouncountable
The main city of a country or state, where the government has its base.
Like the head office of a big company, but for a whole country.
Paris is the capital of France.
The country moved its capital to a brand-new city.
UsageSay the capital of France. A capitol is a building, not a city.
2
moneynoununcountable
Money and other assets used to start or run a business or produce goods and services.
Like the fuel a car needs to run: money is what keeps a business moving.
She needs more capital to open her bakery.
The company raised capital by selling shares.
UsageSay raise capital, with no a.
Similarfunds, money, funding, finance, assets
Note
3
uppercase letternouncountable
A big letter, like the ones used at the start of a name.
Like a bigger version of the same letter.
Always begin a name with a capital.
The sign was painted in large capitals.
UsageSay write in capitals.
4
punishable by deathadjective
Able to be punished by death, or having to do with putting someone to death as a punishment.
Like the harshest punishment a court can hand down, where a crime can cost someone their life.
Murder was once a capital crime in many countries.
In some countries, murder is still a capital crime.
UsageOften capital punishment.
Note
5
leading citynouncountable
A city known as the leading place for a certain activity or product.
Many people call Paris the fashion capital of the world.
That small town hopes to become the chili capital of the state.
UsageSay the fashion capital of Europe.
Similarcenter, hub, mecca
6
adjective
Being the main city where a country or state runs its government.
They visited the capital city during their trip.
Many capital cities have important government buildings.
UsageMostly capital city.

Less common meanings

7
adjective
Written as a big letter, not a small one.
Write the first letter as a capital A.
Please use capital letters when you fill out the form.
UsageSay a capital letter.
Similaruppercase, majuscular
Oppositelowercase
Note
8
noununcountable
Trust, goodwill, or influence that a person or group builds up and can use to get things done.
The new manager earned a lot of capital with her team by really listening to them.
He used up all his capital with his friends by asking them for too many favors.
UsageOften political capital, which people spend or build up.
Similarcredit, goodwill
Note
9
investor classnoununcountable
Rich people and investors thought of as one group with power over money and society.
Like one big team made up of all the people with money and power.
Big decisions in the country often favor capital over ordinary workers.
Many protesters felt that capital had far too much control over the government.
UsageOften capital and labor.
Note
10
most importantadjective
Very important or very serious, as in 'of capital importance' or 'a capital mistake'.
Like the biggest, most important piece in a puzzle.
Getting enough rest is of capital importance for young athletes.
Clean drinking water is of capital importance to the village.
Similarparamount, prime, chief, cardinal, grave
Oppositeminor, trivial, negligible
Note
11
column topnouncountable
The top part of a column or pillar, often carved or decorated.
Like a fancy hat that sits on top of a column.
The carved capital at the top of the pillar showed acanthus leaves.
Workers lifted the heavy stone capital into place above the column.
Similarchapiter
Note
12
excellentadjectivedatedUK
Very good or excellent.
Like saying something is really, really good.
That was a capital idea for the school fair.
Sometimes he laughed heartily as if he heard some capital joke; by degrees this lessened, and he spoke rapidly, but in very low tones.
1887, Harriet W. Daly, DiggingHere, capital means excellent or very good, so it was a great joke.
Similarsplendid, excellent, first-rate, fine
Note
13
said when pleasedinterjectiondated
Said to show that you are pleased or that something is great.
Like shouting 'Great!' when you're happy.
Capital! That's exactly the answer I was hoping for.
"Capital! And I shall soon get a bonus."
1918, Fyodor Dostoevsky, White NightsHere, Capital is said to show delight, like saying excellent or great.
Similargreat
Note
14
adjective
About money put into things meant to be used for many years, like buildings and equipment.
The school set aside a capital budget for a new gym.
The city raised its capital spending this year to build a new bridge.
UsageOften capital spending.
15
noun
The main or most important thing in a group or situation.
16
adjective
Having to do with the head.
Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise / Expect with mortal pain.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, capital means of the head, so the bruise is to the serpent's head.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–10, 12–14

From Latin caput meaning "head." Long ago people traded "heads" of cattle, so the word came to be used in trade and money.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Capital ultimately derives from Latin caput, meaning head. en.wikipedia.org
The financial meaning developed from trading heads of cattle. es.wiktionary.org

Meaning 11

From Latin caput meaning "head," through a word for the head-like top of a column.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Capital ultimately derives from Latin caput, meaning "head". en.wikipedia.org
The derivation passes through a word denoting the head-like top of a column: Late Latin capitellum. en.wiktionary.org