English Reference
Adjective

capitalized

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈkæpɪtəˌɫaɪzd/ cap·i·tal·ized UK spelling capitalised

adj.written with a big letter at the start, like 'London' instead of 'london'. It can also describe a company that has been given the money it needs to operate.

adj.written or printed in upper-case letters. In a financial context, it describes a business entity that has been provided with capital or has its value converted into stock.


SIMPLE

Proper nouns like names must always be capitalized.

CONTEXTUAL

The editor reminded the writer that job titles should only be capitalized when they precede a specific name.

COMPLEX

The startup remained well capitalized throughout the fiscal year, allowing it to expand into international markets without seeking additional venture funding.

Usage

Often used as a participial adjective to describe the orthographic state of a word or the financial state of a company.

Pitfall
The city is capitalized.The name of the city is capitalized.

You capitalize the word or the name, not the physical place or object itself.

In its famous first line, “We the People of the United States,” the “U” in “United” is capitalized once and for all.

Smithsonian Magazine· 8 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated