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.”
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.
Almost never used alone in English — it appears in the set phrase "per capita," not as a standalone noun.
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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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