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capitol

noun
cap·​i·​tol | \ ˈka-pə-tᵊl How to pronounce capitol (audio) , ˈkap-tᵊl\

Definition of capitol

1a : a building in which a state legislative body meets the dome of the state capitol
b : a group of buildings in which the functions of state government are carried out
2 capitalized : the building in which the U.S. Congress meets at Washington
Synonyms Capital and Capitol: Which One to Use Where More Example Sentences Learn More about capitol

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Synonyms for capitol

Synonyms

statehouse

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Capital and Capitol: Which One to Use Where

What a pair these are: they sound identical and look nearly identical and both have meanings that relate to government. Mastering their use, however, is simple.

The key is this: capitol, the one with an "o," is very limited in use. It appears in the term Capitol Hill, and is used to refer to one very particular and famous building, to some other similar buildings, and, occasionally, to a group of buildings that includes those similar buildings. For all other meanings, the word you want is capital.

This means that in a state's capital city is a building or group of buildings properly referred to with the word capitol, with an "o." In this use capitol is synonymous with statehouse: both refer to the building or group of buildings where a state legislature meets. The phrase capital city utilizes capital because it refers to a city, not to a building or group of buildings.

Capitol with a capital "C" refers to the particular building in Washington, D.C. where the U.S. Congress meets. It often appears before other nouns in phrases like the Capitol building and Capitol police, and is very frequently used in the term Capitol Hill, which refers both to the legislative branch of the United States government as well as to the location of the Capitol building. The Capitol, like many state capitol buildings, has a rounded dome that is somewhat reminiscent of the top of an "o," which may help some remember the "o" spelling. Note that the word capital as used to describe an uppercase letter, like in the phrase capital "C", utilizes capital.

The word capital has three distinct homographs, two for noun uses and one for adjective uses. Readers should consult those entries for the various meanings of capital, but can be assured that they all end in al, rather than ol.

Examples of capitol in a Sentence

the dome of the state capitol the legislators were called to the capitol for an emergency session

Recent Examples on the Web

 One of the activists was arrested on charges of misdemeanor assault after allegedly shoving the author of the vaccination bill, Sen. Richard Pan, during a confrontation on a sidewalk near the state capitol in Sacramento. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, "Editorial: California must close loophole in vaccination law," 5 Sep. 2019 Lori rallied thousands of Catholics to the state capitol, branding the proposal an attack on religious freedom. — Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, "W.Va. scandal muddies legacy of Vatican’s longtime fixer from Baltimore," 2 Sep. 2019 At the capitol in Boise, Redman circulated a handout that included a picture of a severed hand and a man kneeling to be beheaded, offered as portrayals of the threat Sharia poses to Western society. — USA Today, "These copycat bills on Sharia law and terrorism have no effect. So why do states keep passing them?," 18 July 2019 Some of the parents have brought their children to the capitol. — Fox News, "Oklahoma governor urges teachers to return to work," 4 Apr. 2018 Icelandair agreed to a seasonal nonstop flight from KCI to Iceland’s capitol, Reykjavik. — Bill Turque, kansascity, "KC Council delivers Edgemoor wish list for KCI agreement," 18 Jan. 2018 Kenneth Austin Bennett, 54, livestreamed the confrontation on his Facebook, which shows him shoving state Senator Richard Pan on the sidewalk near the capitol in Sacramento. — CBS News, "Anti-vaccine activist livestreams himself shoving California lawmaker who wrote vaccination bills," 22 Aug. 2019 In July, Ryuk hit Georgia's court system and then Georgia's state and capitol police. — Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, "Ransomware strike takes down 23 Texas local government agencies," 19 Aug. 2019 Randy Mire, owner of Capitol Wellness Solutions in Baton Rouge, saw three patients Tuesday and hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at his spa-like offices in the state’s capitol. — Washington Post, "Louisiana launching medical marijuana after years of waiting," 6 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'capitol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of capitol

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for capitol

Latin Capitolium, temple of Jupiter at Rome on the Capitoline hill

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More Definitions for capitol

capitol

noun
How to pronounce capitol (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of capitol

: the building in which the people who make the laws of a U.S. state meet
: the building in which the U.S. Congress meets in Washington, D.C.

See the full definition for capitol in the English Language Learners Dictionary

capitol

noun
cap·​i·​tol | \ ˈka-pə-tᵊl How to pronounce capitol (audio) , ˈkap-tᵊl\

Kids Definition of capitol

1 : the building in which a state legislature meets
2 capitalized : the building in Washington, D.C., in which the United States Congress meets

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