capitol

IPA/ˈkæpɪtl/
KK[kˈæpɪtəl]IPA/ˈkæpɪtl/

capitol — noun

  • capitolsingular
  • capitolsplural

1. the large white building in Washington, D.C., where the United States Congress m

1.nounB1
Definition

the large white building in Washington, D.C., where the United States Congress meets to write and discuss national laws.

Example

Aiko's school trip included a guided tour of the US Capitol.

the US Capitol — specific fixed name for Washington D.C. building

The Capitol dome was lit up against the night sky.

countable: the Capitol dome

Common collocations
  • the Capitol
  • Capitol building
  • Capitol dome
  • at the Capitol
  • on Capitol Hill
Synonyms
  • the Capitol

    the definite-name form used to refer specifically to the Washington, D.C., building; more common in everyday speech than 'Capitol building'

  • Congress

    refers to the people (senators and representatives) rather than the building; not a direct synonym

Grammar Patterns

the + capitol

Usage Note

When referring to the Washington, D.C., building, 'Capitol' is usually capitalised. The building is often simply called 'the Capitol'.

Common Mistakes

The US capital building has a white dome.
The US Capitol building has a white dome.
'capitol' (with an 'o') is the building; 'capital' (with an 'a') is the city or money.

2. a building in any of the 50 US states where the state's elected officials meet t

2.nounB2
Definition

a building in any of the 50 US states where the state's elected officials meet to make state laws.

Example

The Texas capitol in Austin is taller than the one in Washington.

pattern: [state] + capitol in [city]

Leila visited the Oregon state capitol to watch a vote on new laws.

Common collocations
  • state capitol
  • capitol building
  • at the capitol
  • capitol steps
  • capitol grounds
Synonyms
  • statehouse

    less common variant, mostly used in parts of the northeastern and midwestern US; slightly informal

Grammar Patterns

[state name] + capitol

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1 (the single U.S. Capitol in D.C.), this sense is not capitalised when it refers to state capitol buildings in general. However, a specific state capitol's proper name is capitalised (e.g., 'the California Capitol').

Common Mistakes

The capital of California is in Sacramento.
The capitol of California is in Sacramento.
use 'capitol' for the building; 'capital' is the city itself.

Word family

  • Capitol Hill
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Capitol' (with an 'o') names the building in Washington, D.C., where the U.S. Congress meets. 'Capitol' is also used (usually lowercase) for state legislative buildings. 'Congress' refers to the two groups of elected people — the Senate and the House of Representatives — who work inside the Capitol. You can say 'Congress is in session' (the people are meeting) or 'the Capitol is open to visitors' (the building). The most commonly confused word is 'capital' (with an 'a'), which means the city that serves as the seat of government, such as 'Sacramento is the capital of California.' An easy memory trick: the Capitol building has a round dome, and 'capitol' has an 'o' — like a dome.

capitol ↗Capitol ↗Congress ↗capital ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • capitol building
  • capitol dome
  • capitol steps
  • capitol grounds
  • capitol police
  • capitol hill

Phrases

  • the halls of the capitol
  • the west front of the capitol

Prepositions

  • at the capitol
  • on Capitol Hill
  • to the capitol
  • inside the capitol

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word comes from the Capitoline Hill ('Capitolium' in Latin), one of the seven hills of ancient Rome, where the most important Roman temples stood. When the founders of the United States named their new legislative building in the 1790s, they chose 'Capitol' to link the young republic's government with the idea of ancient Rome's civic and religious centre. The spelling with an 'o' (not an 'a') preserves the link to the Latin original.