capacitate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “capacitate” mean?
To make someone or something legally or officially competent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make someone or something legally or officially competent; to give the necessary power or authority.
To provide with the necessary means, ability, or qualification to perform a function; to enable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or use. The word is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Formality, officialdom, legal or technical processes.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both general corpora. Its use is confined to specific legal, academic, or technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “capacitate” in a Sentence
[SVO] The certificate capacitates her to practice law.[SV to INF] The new law will capacitate local authorities to levy the tax.[be V-ed] He was capacitated by the court to act as executor.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capacitate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The university degree capacitates graduates to enter the profession.
- The act of Parliament capacitated the council to raise funds.
American English
- The bar exam capacitates lawyers to practice in this state.
- The new technology capacitates farmers to monitor soil health remotely.
adverb
British English
- No common adverb form in use.
American English
- No common adverb form in use.
adjective
British English
- No common adjective form in use.
American English
- No common adjective form in use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board resolution capacitates the CEO to enter into binding contracts.
Academic
This genetic modification capacitates the organism to survive in extreme environments.
Everyday
Rarely used in everyday conversation; 'enable' or 'allow' is preferred.
Technical
The software patch capacitates the device to receive firmware updates wirelessly.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “capacitate”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “capacitate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capacitate”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'He capacitated to vote' is wrong).
- Confusing it with 'captivate'.
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'enable' in informal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. In most contexts, 'enable', 'authorise', or 'empower' are more natural choices.
Yes, in technical/scientific writing it can mean 'to render capable of a specific biological function' (e.g., 'The mutation capacitates the cell to resist the antibiotic').
The related noun is 'capacitation'. In biology, it refers to the process by which sperm gain the ability to fertilise an egg. More generally, it can mean the action of capacitating.
Yes. 'Enable' is broad and common. 'Capacitate' is narrower, more formal, and often implies a legal, official, or technical conferral of power or ability.
To make someone or something legally or officially competent.
Capacitate is usually formal, technical, legal in register.
Capacitate: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈpasɪteɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈpæsəˌteɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'capacity' + 'ate'. To give someone the CAPACITY to do something legally.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A CONTAINER (being 'filled' with legal power/capacity).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'capacitate' MOST appropriately used?