capitulation

noun

ca·​pit·​u·​la·​tion kə-ˌpi-chə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce capitulation (audio)
1
: a set of terms or articles (see article sense 1c) constituting an agreement between governments
2
a
: the act of surrendering or yielding
the capitulation of the defenders of the besieged town
b
: the terms of surrender

Examples of capitulation in a Sentence

her sudden capitulation surprised everyone; she usually debated for hours
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other important point when thinking about the capitulation of corporate media ownership is that, in the past, these organizations were important in terms of their ability to influence public debate and public sentiment. David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 Many in the entertainment industry called Kimmel's suspension a capitulation to the government's attempt to censor free speech. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025 Historical context suggests that this kind of selloff often represents capitulation rather than continuation. Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025 Resilience and silence Many look at the blacklist era as a time of capitulation by progressives in the face of repression. Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for capitulation

Word History

Etymology

see capitulate

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of capitulation was in 1535

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Cite this Entry

“Capitulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitulation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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