capacity

1 of 2

noun

ca·​pac·​i·​ty kə-ˈpa-sə-tē How to pronounce capacity (audio)
-ˈpa-stē
plural capacities
1
: legal competency (see competence sense 1) 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, Weights and Measures Table
3
a
: an individual's mental or physical ability : aptitude, skill
He has the capacity to handle this job.
Her breathing capacity has deteriorated.
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
b
: the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions

capacity

2 of 2

adjective

: equaling maximum capacity
a capacity crowd

Examples of capacity in a Sentence

Noun The nightclub has a 1,000-person capacity. a bottle with a capacity of two liters Does he have the capacity to handle this job? The disease causes a deterioration of breathing capacity. He was acting in his capacity as judge. serving in a supervisory capacity
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Animals including snakes are sentient beings with thoughts, feeling and individual personalities, but because reptiles are so different in appearance than humans, people don't always understand their capacity to suffer, Holtz told CBS MoneyWatch. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 With western military aid looking far from certain and artillery ammunition running low, the pressure on Ukraine’s unmanned air capacity has only grown, leaving Kyiv’s forces in an increasingly perilous position. Yurii Shyvala, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 More children were trying to force their way into the tent, which was at capacity, but Abu Hassan and his friends held them back. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Americans doubt his capacities and say his policies have hurt not helped them. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 9 Mar. 2024 Well, The Tubes are still around — some 40 years after their commercial heyday — and performed their first show of 2024 before a capacity crowd on Thursday (March 7) at the lovely Guild Theatre in Menlo Park. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The couple have had each of their children in their films in some capacity, including Flora as an extra in Oppenheimer and Interstellar. Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 The numbers of migrants flowing across the U.S-Mexico border have far outpaced the capacity of an immigration system that has not been substantially updated in decades. Seung Min Kim, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024 The resolution came more than a year after one of the largest sewage spills resulted in 143 million gallons of toxic waste flowing into the Tijuana River Valley, and more than a year before Congress approved $300 million to double the capacity of the treatment plant. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2024
Adjective
This heavy-duty, super-capacity duffle is no exception. Mike Richard, Men's Health, 24 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capacity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capacity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near capacity

Cite this Entry

“Capacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capacity. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

capacity

noun
ca·​pac·​i·​ty
kə-ˈpas-ət-ē,
-ˈpas-tē
plural capacities
1
: the ability to hold or contain
the seating capacity of a room
2
: the largest amount or number that can be contained
a jug with a capacity of four liters
the auditorium was filled to capacity
3
: mental or physical ability
4
: position entry 1 sense 4a, function
in your capacity as drama critic

Medical Definition

capacity

noun
ca·​pac·​i·​ty kə-ˈpas-ət-ē, -ˈpas-tē How to pronounce capacity (audio)
plural capacities
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)
(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 capacityMorris Fishbein

Legal Definition

capacity

noun
ca·​pac·​i·​ty
plural capacities
1
: a qualification, power, or ability (as to give consent or make a testament) created by operation of law
2
: an individual's ability or aptitude
especially : mental ability as it relates to responsibility for the commission of a crime (as murder) see also diminished capacity compare competency, incapacity, insanity

More from Merriam-Webster on capacity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!