Capitol

[ kap-i-tl ]
See synonyms for Capitol on Thesaurus.com
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.

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

  2. the Capitoline.

Origin of Capitol

1
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

confusables note For Capitol

See capital1.

Words that may be confused with Capitol

Words Nearby Capitol

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Capitol in a sentence

  • “Steed”—Jefferson rode on horseback to the Capitol to take his oath of office as President.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • As Matt hurried out of the Capitol building he found Clip at the curb, waiting for him.

    Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. Matthews
  • Immediately the British flag was lowered from the Capitol at Williamsburg and the colonial colors were raised instead.

  • The sun has risen, a large ball of deep red, pouring a flood of gold upon the Capitol.

    Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist | Alexander Berkman
  • It was half-past five that afternoon when the Comet came to a halt at the steps of the Capitol building.

    Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for Capitol

Capitol

/ (ˈkæpɪtəl) /


noun
    • another name for the Capitoline

    • the temple on the Capitoline

  1. the Capitol the main building of the US Congress

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

Origin of Capitol

1
C14: from Latin Capitōlium, from caput head

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012