Capitol

[kap-i-tl]

noun

1. the building in Washington, D.C., used by the Congress of the U.S. for its sessions.

2. (often lowercase),  a building occupied by a state legislature.

3. the ancient temple of Jupiter at Rome, on the Capitoline.

4. the Capitoline.

Capitol

/ ˈkæpɪtəl /

noun

1. 1. another name for the Capitoline

   2. the temple on the Capitoline

2. the main building of the US Congress

3. Also called: statehouse. (sometimes not capital) (in the US) the building housing any state legislature

Confusables Note

See capital ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Capitol¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin capitōlium, the name of the temple of Jupiter on Capitoline hill, Rome, taken to be a derivative of caput “head”; replacing Middle English capitolie, from Old North French

Word History and Origins

Origin of Capitol¹

C14: from Latin Capitōlium, from caput head

Example Sentences

Policymakers on Capitol Hill remain in a standoff, with Republicans so far digging in and refusing to grant the Democrats' demands to extend subsidies that make health insurance affordable for millions of Americans.

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Capitol was the most visible consequence of this inversion, but it will hardly be the last.

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According to Section 107 of the act, three buildings and their grounds are exempt from the Section 106 review process: the White House, the US Capitol and the US Supreme Court building.

Read more on BBC

A pardon for Zhao will likely invite intense scrutiny from Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last time, it took at least four years to bring a demo crew to the Capitol,” he said, referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Read more on Los Angeles Times