capita
2 synonyms for capita, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Heads, or individual persons — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "per capita," meaning "for each person."
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use capita
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
per capita income
per capita spending
GDP per capita
Etymology
From Latin capita, the plural of caput ("head") — the same root that gives English "capital" and "decapitate."
Full origin of capita →Frequently asked questions
What does “capita” mean?
The word “capita” means heads, or individual persons — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "per capita," meaning "for each person.". In plain terms, used to mean "per person," as in statistics that divide a total by the number of people.
How do you use “capita” in a sentence?
Here is “capita” used in a sentence: “Income per capita rose sharply after the factory opened.”
What part of speech is “capita”?
“Capita” is a noun.
Where does the word “capita” come from?
The word “capita” comes from Latin. From Latin capita, the plural of caput ("head") — the same root that gives English "capital" and "decapitate.".
Is “capita” a common word?
“Capita” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is capita ever used outside the phrase per capita?
Capita almost always appears in the fixed phrase "per capita" and is rarely used as a standalone word in modern English. Its core meaning is heads or individual persons.
What is the difference between per capita and average?
Per capita specifically means a figure divided by the total number of individual people, using capita to mean heads or persons. Average is a broader term that can be calculated over any set of items, not just people.
