noun
Common
capita
Capita (noun) means Heads, or individual persons — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "per capita," meaning "for each person.". Example: “Income per capita rose sharply after the factory opened.”
noun
1
Heads, or individual persons — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "per capita," meaning "for each person."
"Income per capita rose sharply after the factory opened."
"The country has a high number of doctors per capita."
"Spending per capita on libraries differs from town to town."
How to use capita
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to mean "per person," as in statistics that divide a total by the number of people.
Common mistake
Almost never used alone in English — it appears in the set phrase "per capita," not as a standalone noun.
Common pairings
per capita income
per capita spending
GDP per capita
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Income per _____ rose sharply after the factory opened.
Etymology
From Latin capita, the plural of caput ("head") — the same root that gives English "capital" and "decapitate."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for capita
See all rhymes for 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.
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