Definition

1. Noun:
   • The building in Washington, D.C., where the U.S. Congress meets: The "Capitol" (capitalized) specifically refers to the building housing the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.
   • A building housing a state legislature: A "capitol" (often not capitalized) can also refer to the building where a state's legislative body meets.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The tour group visited the Capitol to see where laws are made. (The group visited the specific building of the U.S. Congress.)
  • The state capitol in Austin is an impressive building. (This refers to the building where the Texas state legislature meets.)

Advanced Usage

• "Capitol Hill": This is the metonymic name for the neighborhood and political entity centered around the U.S. Capitol building.
  • The decision was debated on Capitol Hill for weeks. (The decision was debated within the U.S. Congress.)

Variants and Related Words

• Capital (n): A city that is the seat of government for a country or state. (Note: This is a different word with a different meaning, often confused with "capitol".)
  • Washington, D.C., is the capital of the United States.

Synonyms

• Statehouse: A building where a state legislature meets. (This is a close synonym for the second meaning.)
  • Protesters gathered outside the statehouse.

Notes on Usage

• The distinction between Capitol (the building) and capital (the city) is critical. A common mnemonic is: the "Capitol" building has a dome (both words contain an 'o').
• When referring specifically to the U.S. Congress building, "Capitol" is typically capitalized. When referring to state buildings, it is often but not always lowercase.

Noun

1. the government building in Washington where the United States Senate and the House of Representatives meet
2. a building occupied by a state legislature