Capitol

[kap-i-tl]

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noun

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

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

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

the Capitoline.

Origin of Capitol

1690–1700, Americanism; < Latin capitōlium temple of Jupiter on Capitoline hill, Rome, taken to be a derivative of caput head; replacing Middle English capitolie < Old North French

Can be confusedcapital Capitol (see usage note at capital¹)

Usage note

See capital¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for capitol

center, dome, statehouse

Examples from the Web for capitol

Contemporary Examples of capitol

Excerpted from Capitol Men: The Epic Story of Reconstruction Through the Lives of the First Black Congressmen by Philip Dray.
The Black Man Who Replaced Jefferson Davis in the Senate
Philip Dray
January 7, 2015
So not only will the GOP have control in the Senate, it will move the center of gravity on Capitol Hill hard to starboard.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It
Michael Tomasky
December 31, 2014
Tool around Capitol Hill, which brims gay bars, restaurants, and clubs.
The Ultimate LGBT Travel Bucket List
December 12, 2014
In the meantime, just as the bill passed its first hurdle, snow flakes started to fall down on the Capitol.
Quirky Reindeer Farmer Keeps Government Open for Christmas
Ben Jacobs
December 11, 2014
Katniss Everdeen has broken the Hunger Games and entered open war against the Capitol.
The Hunger Games Economy
Jedediah Purdy
November 29, 2014

Historical Examples of capitol

The address to the crowd at the Capitol was broadcast on a loudspeaker.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
Let us give this capitol back to the people to whom it belongs.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
There's the Capitol ahead of us, and some of our troops are going into it.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
I could not camp in the Capitol Square, even if I had wished so to do.
Southern Lights and Shadows
Various
He had his own ship on a line with the Capitol in a matter of seconds.
The Hammer of Thor
Charles Willard Diffin

British Dictionary definitions for capitol

Capitol

noun

another name for the Capitoline
the temple on the Capitoline

the Capitol the main building of the US Congress

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

Word Origin for Capitol

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

Word Origin and History for capitol

Capitol

"building where U.S. Congress meets," 1793 (in writings of Thomas Jefferson), from Latin Capitolium, temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill in ancient Rome. Used earlier of Virginia state houses (1699). Its use in American public architecture deliberately evokes Roman republican imagery. With reference to the Roman citadel, it is recorded in English from late 14c., via Old North French capitolie. Relationship of Capitoline to capital is likely but not certain.