capitation

American  

[kap-i-tey-shuhn] / ˌkæp ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a numbering or assessing by the head.

2. a poll tax.

3. a fee or payment of a uniform amount for each person.

---

capitation British  

/ ˌkæpɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a tax levied on the basis of a fixed amount per head

2. a grant of money given to every person who qualifies under certain conditions

3. the process of assessing or numbering by counting heads

---

Other Word Forms

• capitative adjective

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

Example Sentences

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

It is based on the ability of the state’s integrated medical groups to provide high-quality care at a lower cost by receiving monthly revenue per enrollee, a payment system known as capitation.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2023

As a consequence, the drafters of the 14th and 15th amendments saw no need to repeal the capitation clause.

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

Utterly ignorant of the political relations between Mexico and Yucatan, they came in from their ranchos and milpas under a promise by General Iman that their capitation tax should be remitted.

From Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II. by Stephens, John L.

Related Words

• contribution
• cost
• duty
• expense
• fine
• levy
• price
• rate
• tariff