decapitate

verb

de·​cap·​i·​tate di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
dē-
decapitated; decapitating

transitive verb

: to cut off the head of : behead
decapitation noun
decapitator noun

Did you know?

Decapitation is a quick and fairly painless way to go, so it was once considered suitable only for nobles like Sir Walter Raleigh, Mary Queen of Scots, and two of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. The invention of the guillotine in the 18th century was meant to make execution swifter and more painless than hanging or a badly aimed blow by the executioner's sword.

Examples of decapitate in a Sentence

a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated
Recent Examples on the Web In that lawsuit, Ross alleged that the staff's negligence during her child's delivery led to her baby being decapitated. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Someone else has painted their small motorhome in Mondrian squares, while another person has a collection of sculptures made from old tires and decapitated baby doll heads staged in some surreal play. Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024 Lincoln’s assassination, as Townsend reported, was part of a wider plot to decapitate and incapacitate the federal government. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Related article Australian council votes to take down statue of premier who decapitated Aboriginal man’s body Away from home she was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and awarded a papal honor from Pope John Paul II. Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 She had been raped and nearly decapitated, authorities said. Shane Bishop, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 That November, and in the weeks that followed, the C.I.A. and MI6 delivered a unified message to their Ukrainian partners: Russia was preparing for a full-scale invasion to decapitate the government and install a puppet in Kyiv who would do the Kremlin’s bidding. Michael Schwirtz, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 The parents of a baby decapitated during childbirth in Georgia last year say hospital staff encouraged the couple to have their son cremated instead of being sent to a funeral home, according to reports. Pilar Arias, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2024 According to the complaint, which was reviewed by PEOPLE, the couple alleges that Ross was not informed that her baby had been decapitated until July 13, after she had been released from the hospital. Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decapitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin decapitatus, past participle of decapitare, from Latin de- + capit-, caput head — more at head

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decapitate was circa 1611

Dictionary Entries Near decapitate

Cite this Entry

“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decapitate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

decapitate

verb
de·​cap·​i·​tate di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of : behead
decapitation noun
Etymology

derived from Latin decapitare "to cut off the head of," from de- "from, away" and caput "head" — related to capital

Medical Definition

decapitate

1 of 2 transitive verb
de·​cap·​i·​tate di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of
decapitation noun

decapitate

2 of 2 adjective
de·​cap·​i·​tate -ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio) -ət-ət How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
: relating to or being a decapitated experimental animal

More from Merriam-Webster on decapitate

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