Capital: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ™๏ธ
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capital

 

[ หˆkรฆpษชtl ]

Noun / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

city

The most important city or town of a country, usually where the government is based.

Synonyms

administrative center, seat of government.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
capital

Used to refer to a city where the government of a country or region is located.

  • Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
  • The capital city often hosts many political institutions.
seat of government

Typically used to indicate the specific location or building where the government's executive branch conducts its business. Often more formal and specific.

  • Washington, D.C. is the seat of government for the United States.
  • The seat of government is where major legislative decisions are made.
administrative center

Used to describe a place where the administrative functions of an organization, government, or region are conducted. Often smaller or less significant than a capital city.

  • Springfield serves as the administrative center of the county.
  • The administrative center handles all bureaucratic processes.

Examples of usage

  • The capital of France is Paris.
  • Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States.
Context #2 | Adjective

letter

Involving financial assets such as money or property.

Synonyms

financial, monetary.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
capital

Used in finance to denote the wealth in the form of money or assets that an individual, organization, or country owns or controls.

  • The company needed more capital to expand its operations.
  • Investors provide the capital necessary for startups to grow.
financial

Used to describe anything related to money management, including the activities of banks, investment firms, and other institutions that handle money.

  • She has a strong financial background.
  • The financial sector is crucial to the economy.
monetary

Used to refer to anything related to money, especially in terms of currency and economic policies.

  • The central bank announced new monetary policies.
  • The monetary value of the property has increased.

Examples of usage

  • We made a capital investment in our business.
  • They have capital reserves for emergencies.
Context #3 | Adjective

excellent

Extremely good or impressive.

Synonyms

excellent, outstanding.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
capital

Use 'capital' when referring to a city where a country's government is located or when mentioning financial resources.

  • Paris is the capital of France.
  • She invested her capital in a new business.
excellent

Use 'excellent' to describe something of very high quality or someone who is very skilled.

  • He did an excellent job on the project.
  • The food at the restaurant was excellent.
outstanding

Use 'outstanding' to describe something or someone that stands out as exceptionally good or impressive.

  • Her performance in the play was outstanding.
  • He received an award for his outstanding contributions to the company.

Examples of usage

  • That was a capital idea!
  • She made a capital impression at the interview.

Translations

Translations of the word "capital" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น capital

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคพเคœเคงเคพเคจเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Hauptstadt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ibu kota

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัั‚ะพะปะธั†ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ stolica

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้ฆ–้ƒฝ (ใ—ใ‚…ใจ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท capitale

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ capital (ciudad)

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท baลŸkent

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ˆ˜๋„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุงุตู…ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hlavnรญ mฤ›sto

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hlavnรฉ mesto

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ฆ–้ƒฝ (shว’udลซ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ prestolnica

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hรถfuรฐborg

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐัั‚ะฐะฝะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒ”แƒ“แƒแƒฅแƒแƒšแƒแƒฅแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ paytaxt

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ capital (ciudad)

Etymology

The word 'capital' comes from the Latin word 'caput', which means 'head'. Originally, 'capital' referred to the top of a column or pillar, representing importance or significance. Over time, the term evolved to denote a city where the government is located, financial assets, and excellence. The diverse meanings of 'capital' reflect its rich history and usage in various contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

With position #495, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.