capsule

1 of 3

noun

cap·​sule ˈkap-səl 

-(ˌ)sül

also -ˌsyül

1

a

: a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (such as a knee joint or kidney)

b

: either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum

2

: a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: such as

a

: a dry dehiscent usually many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels

b

: the spore case of a moss

3

: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (such as a drug or vitamins)

also : a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents

4

: an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism

5

: an extremely brief condensation : outline, survey

capsules of history given to students

6

a

: a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment

b

: a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight)

capsule

2 of 3

verb

capsuled; capsuling

transitive verb

1

: to equip with or enclose in a capsule

2

: to condense into or devise in a compact form

capsuled the news

capsule

3 of 3

adjective

1

: extremely brief

a capsule biography

2

: small and very compact

a capsule submarine

Synonyms of capsule

Noun

• pill
• tablet

Verb

• compress
• condense
• squeeze
• pack
• compact

Adjective

• concise
• brief
• summary

Examples of capsule in a Sentence

Noun

took an antibiotic capsule three times a day for a week

a capsule containing all sorts of items from our era that is to be opened 100 years from now

Verb

newscasts that capsule complex, important stories into one-minute bits for easy digestion by viewers

Adjective

capsule reviews of the latest offerings at the multiplex

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Progress is one of four cargo spacecraft that resupply the ISS these days, along with Japan's HTV-X, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus and SpaceX's Dragon capsule. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026

How many humans have ridden in that capsule? —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026

Adjective

The brand held its pre-fall 2017 and capsule collections at the Shanghai Exhibition Center in December 2016. —Sandra Salibian For Wwd, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 2026

In February of this year, Skylrk announced Hailey Bieber as its first campaign star, with a capsule collection co-created by the couple, generating $520,000 in MIV in one week, per Launchmetrics. —Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa box — more at case

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing capsule

• Bowman's capsule
• capsule wardrobe
• time capsule

Kids Definition

capsule

1 of 2 noun

cap·​sule ˈkap-səl 

-(ˌ)sül

1

: a surrounding cover of a bodily part (as a knee joint)

2

: a case bearing spores or seeds

3

: a shell usually of gelatin that is used for packaging something (as a drug)

also : such a shell together with its contents

4

: an envelope of carbohydrate around a microbe and especially a bacterium

5

: a small compartment with nearly normal atmospheric pressure for a pilot or astronaut

especially : spacecraft

capsule

2 of 2 adjective

: very brief

capsule movie reviews

Medical Definition

capsule

noun

cap·​sule ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül 

1

a

: a membrane or saclike structure enclosing a part or organ

the capsule of the kidney

b

: either of two layers or laminae of white matter in the cerebrum:

(1)

: a layer that consists largely of fibers passing to and from the cerebral cortex and that lies internal to the lentiform nucleus

called also internal capsule

(2)

: one that lies between the lentiform nucleus and the claustrum

called also external capsule

2

: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins)

also : a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents

3

: a viscous or gelatinous often polysaccharide envelope surrounding certain microscopic organisms (as the pneumococcus)