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
Cooper expressed a sincere sense of gratitude for working alongside her family in this capacity, and also having the help of Juliana, Carla and Miss Gladys — cooks from Colombia and Chile. Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024 Battery capacity, despite recent improvements, does not equal the energy density of jet fuel. Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024 The city will also require deadlines the developers must reach, as well as prove its financial capacity to build the project. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024 That said, the ship never felt crowded, in part because A&K limits capacity for its tours, meaning that some rooms go deliberately unfilled. David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024 Among them, Republican negotiators championed an increase in funding for 22,000 border patrol agents and ICE detention bed capacity for migrants at the southern border. Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 But like many before them, Mr. Garland and his team appear to have underestimated Mr. Trump’s capacity for reinvention and disruption, in this case through delay. Adam Goldman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Overall, then, immigration appears to have been a big plus for U.S. economic growth, among other things expanding our productive capacity in a way that reduced the inflationary impact of Biden’s spending programs. Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024 Create a calendar that ensures that your more formidable roles and tasks coincide with less taxing duties or less pressing engagements while also ensuring tasks are realistically within your daily, weekly or monthly capacity. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 21 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 28 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

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