capitation
Americannoun
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a numbering or assessing by the head.
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a poll tax.
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a fee or payment of a uniform amount for each person.
noun
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a tax levied on the basis of a fixed amount per head
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a grant of money given to every person who qualifies under certain conditions
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the process of assessing or numbering by counting heads
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of capitation
First recorded in 1605–15; from French, from Late Latin capitātiōn- (stem of capitātiō ), equivalent to Latin capit- (stem of caput ) “head” + -ātiōn noun suffix; see origin at -ation
Vocabulary lists containing capitation
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Oak Street operated on a capitation basis under the Medicare Advantage program—which meant the bulk of its revenues were keyed off the number of enrolled Medicare patients, leaving it vulnerable to higher-than-expected expenses.
From Barron's • Oct. 29, 2025
Under Medicare Advantage, health plans are paid a set amount per patient per month, known as a capitation.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2021
From the very beginning of the republic, however, the Supreme Court read the capitation clause narrowly, to permit Congress to impose nationwide taxes on wealth outside of such head taxes.
From Slate • Feb. 19, 2019
The next section says that “no capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.”
From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2019
This was a new departure and had been suggested by the desire to impose capitation fees, which would in particular cases be excused.
From A History of Giggleswick School From its Foundation, 1499 to 1912 by Bell, Edward Allen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
