capitulation
Americannoun
-
the act of capitulating.
-
the document containing the terms of a surrender.
-
a list of the headings or main divisions of a subject; a summary or enumeration.
-
Often capitulations. a treaty or agreement by which subjects of one country residing or traveling in another are extended extraterritorial rights or special privileges, especially such a treaty between a European country and the former Ottoman rulers of Turkey.
noun
-
the act of capitulating
-
a document containing terms of surrender
-
a statement summarizing the main divisions of a subject
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of capitulation
First recorded in 1525–35, capitulation is from the Medieval Latin word capitulātiōn- (stem of capitulātiō ). See capitulate, -ion
Explanation
Capitulation is the act of surrendering or giving up. If you enter a pie eating contest when you're already full, you'll probably have to end up in a state of capitulation. The original meaning of capitulation is "the formal terms of surrender between governments." The word comes from the Latin capitulāre, with a root in capital, or "the head of state." You can use capitulation for any act of surrender. If you're stuck in an endless argument with your neighbor over the exact boundary between your properties, only the original deeds to the land will bring about a capitulation.
Vocabulary lists containing capitulation
The Diary of a Young Girl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Diary of Anne Frank," Vocabulary from the drama
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week In Words: February 1–7, 2020
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
If this is what capitulation looks like, it would be a first.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026
What Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid is out to evoke is bone-deep submission: the kind of total capitulation and surrender that makes a person unrecognizable even to themselves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
He expects stock capitulation only if credit spreads widen meaningfully from here.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
Gulf nations have showcased unexpected resilience, and instead of capitulation warned of retaliation as their air defenses shot down most Iranian drones and missiles, preventing catastrophic damage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
He brought the news that the dans on foot had offered their capitulation.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
