capacitance

C3A1P3A1C3I1T1A1N1C3E1

noun

The property of an electric circuit or its element that permits it to store charge, defined as the ratio of stored charge to potential over that element or circuit (Q/V); SI unit: farad (F).

Similar
electrical capacitycapacitycapacitorcondenserelectrical condenser
Opposite
elastance
OriginEnglish capacity ← Middle English capacite ← Old French capacite →
Less commonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nouncapacitance (countable and uncountable, plural capacitances)

plural capacitances

  1. uncountablenatural sciencesThe property of an electric circuit or its element that permits it to store charge, defined as the ratio of stored charge to potential over that element or circuit (Q/V); SI unit: farad (F).

    Antonyms: elastance

  2. countablenatural sciencesAn element of an electrical circuit exhibiting capacitance.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe property of an electric circuit or its element that permits it to store charge, defined as the ratio of stored charge to potential over that element or circuit (Q/V); SI unit: farad (F).

Opposite
elastance

More synonyms by meaning

nounan electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored

Similar
electrical capacitycapacity
Broader
electrical phenomenon

nounan electrical device characterized by its capacity to store an electric charge

Similar
capacitorcondenserelectrical condenser
Broader
electrical device
Also see
capacitorcapacitycondenser

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kap-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*kapyéti
  3. Proto-Italic*kapjō
  4. Latincapiō
  5. Latincapāx
  6. Latincapācitās
  7. Old Frenchcapacite
  8. Middle Englishcapacite
  9. Englishcapacity
  10. Englishcapacitance

From capacity + -ance.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian капацитет
  • капацитет (kapacitet)property of an element of an electrical circuit
Catalan capacitància
  • capacitànciaproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Chinese Mandarin 電容 /电容
  • 電容 /电容 (diànróng)property of an element of an electrical circuit
Danish kapacitans
  • kapacitansproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Dutch elektrische capaciteit
  • elektrische capaciteitproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Finnish kapasitanssi, kapasitanssi
  • kapasitanssiproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
  • kapasitanssielement
  • kondensaattorielement
French capacité électrique
  • capacité électriqueproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
German Kapazität
  • Kapazitätproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Hindi धारिता
  • धारिता (dhāritā)property of an element of an electrical circuit
Hungarian kapacitás
  • kapacitásproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Icelandic rafrýmd
  • rafrýmdproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Indonesian kapasitans
  • kapasitansproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Italian capacità
  • capacitàproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Japanese 容量, 電気容量
  • 容量 (yōryō)property of an element of an electrical circuit
  • 電気容量 (denkiyōryō)property of an element of an electrical circuit
  • 静電容量 (seiden'yōryō)property of an element of an electrical circuit
Korean 용량, 전기용량
  • 용량 (yongnyang)property of an element of an electrical circuit
  • 전기용량 (jeon'giyongnyang)property of an element of an electrical circuit
  • 정전용량 (jeongjeonyongnyang)property of an element of an electrical circuit
Māori āheipuringa, kahapupuri hiko
  • āheipuringaproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
  • kahapupuri hikoproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Polish pojemność elektryczna, pojemność elektryczna
  • pojemność elektrycznaproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
  • pojemność elektrycznaelement
Portuguese capacitância
  • capacitânciaproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Romanian capacitate electrică
  • capacitate electricăproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Russian ёмкость, конденса́тор
  • ёмкость (jómkostʹ)property of an element of an electrical circuit
  • конденса́тор (kondensátor)element
Spanish capacitancia
  • capacitanciaproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Swedish kapacitans
  • kapacitansproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Tagalog kalulanan
  • kalulananproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Turkish kapasitans
  • kapasitansproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Welsh cynhwysiant
  • cynhwysiantproperty of an element of an electrical circuit
Cite this entry
APA

capacitance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capacitance

MLA

“capacitance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capacitance. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “capacitance,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capacitance.

Source: capacitance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.