Meanings
verbdecapitalize (third-person singular simple present decapitalizes, present participle decapitalizing, simple past and past participle decapitalized)
present singular third person decapitalizes · participle present decapitalizing · participle past decapitalized · past decapitalized · alternative decapitalise
- transitiveTo uncapitalize (convert the first letter (or more) of (something) from uppercase to lowercase).
- transitivelawTo remove (something's) status as a capital crime; to cause (something) to no longer be a capital crime.
In 1801 Connecticut decapitalized arson, but only where no victim's life had been placed in danger.
2009, Stuart Banner, The Death Penalty: an American history, page 131
Synonyms & antonyms
Similar
Also see
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*de
- Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
- Proto-Italic*dē
- Latindē
- Latindē-
- Englishde-
- Englishcapitalize
- Englishdecapitalize
From de- + capitalize.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
decapitalize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decapitalize
MLA
“decapitalize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decapitalize. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “decapitalize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decapitalize.
Source: decapitalize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.