Capitol

[kap-i-tl]

noun

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

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

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

4. the Capitoline.

Capitol

/ ˈkæpɪtəl /

noun

1. 1. another name for the Capitoline

   2. the temple on the Capitoline

2. the main building of the US Congress

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

Confusables Note

See capital ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Capitol¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin capitōlium, the name of the temple of Jupiter on Capitoline hill, Rome, taken to be a derivative of caput “head”; replacing Middle English capitolie, from Old North French

Word History and Origins

Origin of Capitol¹

C14: from Latin Capitōlium, from caput head

Example Sentences

On Wednesday, a group of Epstein victims and their families held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol to support the discharge petition and call for full disclosure in the Epstein case.

From BBC

Kennedy’s position on vaccines have reverberated beyond Capitol Hill.

From Los Angeles Times

Capitol, an emergency where the federal government, he added, actually had the legal authority to intervene.

From Salon

Lawmakers and victims of Epstein plan to hold a news conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

From BBC

At Newsom’s urging, leaders at the Capitol shoved the measure through the state Legislature and onto the ballot in record time last week.

From Los Angeles Times