capacity

¹ca·pac·i·ty

noun \kə-ˈpa-sə-tē, -ˈpas-tē\

plural ca·pac·i·ties

Definition of CAPACITY

1

: legal competency or fitness <capacity to stand trial>

2

a : the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating <a large seating capacity>

b : the maximum amount or number that can be contained or accommodated <a jug with a one-gallon capacity> <the auditorium was filled to capacity> — see metric system table, weight table

3

a : an individual's mental or physical ability : aptitude, skill

b : the faculty or potential for treating, experiencing, or appreciating <capacity for love>

4

: duty, position, role <will be happy to serve in any capacity>

5

: the facility or power to produce, perform, or deploy : capability <a plan to double the factory's capacity>; also : maximum output <industries running at three-quarter capacity>

6

a : capacitance

b : the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions

Examples of CAPACITY

1. The nightclub has a 1,000-person capacity.
2. a bottle with a capacity of two liters
3. Does he have the capacity to handle this job?
4. The disease causes a deterioration of breathing capacity.
5. He was acting in his capacity as judge.
6. serving in a supervisory capacity

Origin of CAPACITY

Middle English capacite, from Middle French capacité, from Latin capacitat-, capacitas, from capac-, capax

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CAPACITY

Synonyms

complement, cubage, real estate, volume

Antonyms

disability, inability, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, ineptness

Related Words

burden, fill, fullness, load, measure; area, room, space, stowage

Near Antonyms

avocation; joblessness, unemployment

Rhymes with CAPACITY

audacity, edacity, fugacity, loquacity, mendacity, opacity, predacity, pugnacity, rapacity, sagacity, sequacity, tenacity, veracity, vivacity, voracity

²capacity

adjective

Definition of CAPACITY

: equaling maximum capacity <a capacity crowd>

First Known Use of CAPACITY

1897

ca·pac·i·ty

noun \kə-ˈpas-ət-ē, -ˈpas-tē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; ca·pac·i·ties

Medical Definition of CAPACITY

1

a : the ability to hold, receive, store, or accommodate b : a measure of content : the measured ability to contain : volume <a beaker with a capacity of one liter>—see vital capacity c (1) : capacitance (2) : the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions

2

: legal qualification, competency, power, or fitness

3

a : power to grasp and analyze ideas and cope with problems b : blended power, strength, and ability <encourage physical activity to the limit of the child's capacity—Morris Fishbein>