capitulation

noun

ca·​pit·​u·​la·​tion kə-ˌpi-chə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: a set of terms or articles (see article sense 1c) constituting an agreement between governments

2

a

: the act of surrendering or yielding

the capitulation of the defenders of the besieged town

b

: the terms of surrender

Synonyms of capitulation

• surrender
• submission

Examples of capitulation in a Sentence

her sudden capitulation surprised everyone; she usually debated for hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the broader equity market may need to follow technology lower, with a more widespread capitulation ultimately needed to wash out weak hands and establish a durable bottom. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2026

But, minus an unappealing large-scale ground invasion, action alone will not result in the destruction or capitulation of the Iranian regime. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2026

There’s no great capitulation or come-to-Jesus moment here, however. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Why the terrible-looking capitulation is super embarrassing, yet strategically correct. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French capitulacion "division into parts, treaty, convention," borrowed from Medieval Latin capitulātiōn-, capitulātiō "dividing into chapters, drawing up heads of agreement" (Late Latin, "listing of subject headings"), from capitulum "heading or division of a document, chapter" + Latin -ātiōn-, -ātiō -ation

Note: The Latin noun is probably in part back-derived from rēcapitulātiō—see recapitulate. For sense development see note at capitulate.

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for capitulation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration