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Stockholm

STOK-holm
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Stockholm (name) means the capital and largest city of Sweden. Example: “They spent a week exploring the old town in Stockholm.”

name
1
The capital and largest city of Sweden.
"They spent a week exploring the old town in Stockholm."
verb
1
(informal) To develop a sympathetic emotional bond with someone who is mistreating or holding power over you, echoing "Stockholm syndrome."
"After months in the toxic job, she felt like she'd been stockholmed into defending her awful boss."

How to use Stockholm

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually the capital city of Sweden; informally, "to be stockholmed" means to end up sympathizing with someone who is hurting or controlling you.

Memory tip

The verb use is casual and mostly seen online — "Stockholm syndrome" is the standard phrase in formal writing.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
Stockholm syndrome flew to Stockholm
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Word forms

Third person singular
Stockholms
Past tense
Stockholmed
Test yourself on “Stockholm” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They spent a week exploring the old town in _____.

Etymology

The verb sense is a back-formation from "Stockholm syndrome," a term coined after a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in which hostages formed an unexpected bond with their captors.

· First attested 1973

Class of 1973 Stockholm joined the language around 1973.
See the full Class of 1973 →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Stockholm” mean?
The word “Stockholm” means the capital and largest city of Sweden. In plain terms, usually the capital city of Sweden; informally, "to be stockholmed" means to end up sympathizing with someone who is hurting or controlling you.
How do you pronounce “Stockholm”?
“Stockholm” is pronounced STOK-holm (/ˈstɒkhɒlm/ in IPA).
How do you use “Stockholm” in a sentence?
Here is “Stockholm” used in a sentence: “They spent a week exploring the old town in Stockholm.”
What part of speech is “Stockholm”?
Depending on how it is used, “Stockholm” can be a name and a verb.
Where does the word “Stockholm” come from?
The word “Stockholm” dates back to around 1973. The verb sense is a back-formation from "Stockholm syndrome," a term coined after a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in which hostages formed an unexpected bond with their captors.
Is “Stockholm” a common word?
“Stockholm” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Stockholm” have?
“Stockholm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the capital and largest city of Sweden.
What is the difference between "Stockholm" the city and "Stockholm syndrome"?
Stockholm is the capital and largest city of Sweden, while "Stockholm syndrome" is a psychological term for sympathizing with a captor or abuser, taking its name from an incident there.
What does it mean to "Stockholm" someone informally?
Informally, to "Stockholm" someone means to develop a sympathetic emotional bond with a person who is mistreating or holding power over you, echoing the term "Stockholm syndrome."
Is Stockholm the largest city in Sweden?
Yes, Stockholm is both the capital and the largest city of Sweden.

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