English vocabulary · C1
Capitulation
/kəˌpɪtʃ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/ · n.
Giving up and agreeing to what the other side wants. You stop fighting and accept their terms.
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Example sentences
- The company's capitulation ended the strike.
- His capitulation surprised everyone in the room.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- capit — head (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- SURRENDER (formally giving up to an opponent)
- SUBMISSION (accepting authority after resistance)
- RETREAT (withdrawing after a losing battle)
Words with the same root
capit — head
- capital — the chief city of a country — the head city
- captain — the head person of a team or ship
- chapter — a main section of a book — originally the head section
Lesson notes
Capitulation. It means giving up and agreeing to what the other side wants. You stop fighting and accept their terms.
Similar words are surrender, submission, and retreat. Use capitulation when someone gives in completely after a long fight.
The company's capitulation ended the strike. His capitulation surprised everyone in the room.
From Latin. Capit means head. Bowing your head to the other side — that is capitulation.