Capital

/ˈkæpɪtəl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The city or town that functions as the seat of government.
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States.
Wealth in the form of money or assets owned by a person or entity.
She invested her capital in the stock market.
An uppercase letter used at the beginning of a sentence or proper noun.
Please write your name with a capital letter.
adjective
Of primary importance; principal.
Education is a capital factor in societal development.
Relating to the city that is the official seat of government.
They held the meeting in the capital city.

Etymology

From Latin 'capitale', meaning 'head, principal'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

capital gains
Profit from the sale of an asset.
capital city
The city where the government is based.
capital punishment
The death penalty for a crime.
human capital
The skills and knowledge possessed by an individual.

Related Words

capitalism
An economic system characterized by private property and free markets.
capitalist
A person who supports or is a part of capitalism.
capitalization
The total amount of capital that a company has.

Slang Meanings

Big money or financial resources.
He's got some serious capital to invest in startups.
The main focus or important part.
That issue is the capital concern of the meeting.