decapitate

[ dih-kap-i-teyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·cap·i·tat·ed, de·cap·i·tat·ing.

1. to cut off the head of; behead:

   Many people were decapitated during the French Revolution.

decapitate

/ dɪˈkæpɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. tr to behead

Derived Forms

• deˈcapiˌtator, noun
• deˌcapiˈtation, noun

Other Words From

• de·capi·tation noun
• de·capi·tator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decapitate¹

1605–15; < Late Latin dēcapitātus, past participle of dēcapitāre, equivalent to dē- de- + capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of decapitate¹

C17: from Late Latin dēcapitāre, from Latin de- + caput head

Example Sentences

On the final day of half-term, at 16:45 on Friday 16 October, Samuel Paty was stabbed and decapitated by the 18-year-old Chechen refugee outside the school.

From BBC

A month later, a man was arrested in New Jersey for decapitating a gull after the bird tried to take French fries from his child.

From Salon

The decapitated bodies of five men have been found on a road in central Mexico, in an area controlled by the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

From BBC

But in the last couple of weeks, Israel has decapitated the Hezbollah organisation, destroyed half of its weapons, according to American and Israeli authorities; and invaded Lebanon.

From BBC

Its command structure has been decapitated, with more than a dozen top commanders assassinated.

From BBC