# capitalized

/ˈkæpɪtəˌɫaɪzd/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/capitalized
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Proper nouns like names must always be capitalized.
- The editor reminded the writer that job titles should only be capitalized when they precede a specific name.
- The startup remained well capitalized throughout the fiscal year, allowing it to expand into international markets without seeking additional venture funding.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The city is capitalized." but "The name of the city is capitalized." — You capitalize the word or the name, not the physical place or object itself.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.