noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/dɪˌkæp.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
UK:/diˌkæp.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈdi.kæp.əˌteɪ.ʃən/
General-American:/ˈdi.kæp.əˌteɪ.ʃɪn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 K AE2 P IH0 T EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Beheading; the act of beheading or decapitating.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
If the headsman's axe was sharp and his aim was true, decapitation was a quick and relatively painless form of death.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The ousting or destruction of the ruling body of a government or other organization.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
A decapitation strike carried out by drone killed many of the country's senior generals.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The unseating of a senior politician.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: government, politics
Examples
The decapitation of the Foreign Secretary was a significant publicity coup for the opposition.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
killing by cutting off the head
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: beheading
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: killing, kill, putting to death
5
noun
Meaning 5
execution by cutting off the victim's head
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: beheading
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: execution, executing, capital punishment, death penalty
History
Etymology
From French décapitation.
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
