decapitate

verb

de·​cap·​i·​tate di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
dē-
decapitated; decapitating

transitive verb

: to cut off the head of : behead
decapitation noun
decapitator noun

Did you know?

Decapitation is a quick and fairly painless way to go, so it was once considered suitable only for nobles like Sir Walter Raleigh, Mary Queen of Scots, and two of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. The invention of the guillotine in the 18th century was meant to make execution swifter and more painless than hanging or a badly aimed blow by the executioner's sword.

Examples of decapitate in a Sentence

a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated
Recent Examples on the Web That November, and in the weeks that followed, the C.I.A. and MI6 delivered a unified message to their Ukrainian partners: Russia was preparing for a full-scale invasion to decapitate the government and install a puppet in Kyiv who would do the Kremlin’s bidding. Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 The parents of a baby decapitated during childbirth in Georgia last year say hospital staff encouraged the couple to have their son cremated instead of being sent to a funeral home, according to reports. Pilar Arias, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2024 According to the complaint, which was reviewed by PEOPLE, the couple alleges that Ross was not informed that her baby had been decapitated until July 13, after she had been released from the hospital. Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 An attorney representing a Georgia couple whose baby was decapitated during delivery last year said Wednesday that the hospital and their obstetrician were not forthcoming about the baby’s cause of death, reiterating allegations from a lawsuit filed last year. Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 7 Feb. 2024 In one scene, a snake-haired Medusa is dispatched (and decapitated) within minutes. Elise Hannum, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2024 Naomi Baker / Getty Images file The death of a baby who was decapitated during delivery was ruled a homicide this week by a Georgia medical examiner. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024 The Islamists slit throats, decapitated villagers and shot teenage girls for not wearing the veil. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 The parents of a newborn who had been decapitated during birth held a press conference on Wednesday after the Clayton County, Georgia Medical Examiner’s Office declared the baby's death a homicide. Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decapitate.' 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

Late Latin decapitatus, past participle of decapitare, from Latin de- + capit-, caput head — more at head

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decapitate was circa 1611

Dictionary Entries Near decapitate

Cite this Entry

“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decapitate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

decapitate

verb
de·​cap·​i·​tate di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of : behead
decapitation noun
Etymology

derived from Latin decapitare "to cut off the head of," from de- "from, away" and caput "head" — related to capital

Medical Definition

decapitate

1 of 2 transitive verb
de·​cap·​i·​tate di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of
decapitation noun

decapitate

2 of 2 adjective
de·​cap·​i·​tate -ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio) -ət-ət How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
: relating to or being a decapitated experimental animal

More from Merriam-Webster on decapitate

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