What does recapitalize mean?
Recapitalize means to capitalize something again or to restore its capital letters. It is especially useful when a word, heading, title, proper name, or brand name has been typed, printed, or formatted in lowercase and must be corrected. The verb can therefore imply either repeating a capitalization process or repairing text in which the intended capitals have been lost. In editorial, publishing, and graphic-design contexts, it is precise and natural, though “capitalize” or “restore the capitals” may be more accessible in general conversation. Recapitalization refers to the process or result of doing this. The word combines the prefix re-, meaning again, with capitalize, from the Latin caput, meaning head or chief, reflecting the historical idea that capital letters stand at the head of words or lines.
verbTo capitalize a word, letter, or text again, especially after it has been written or printed in lowercase. It can also mean to restore capital status to a name, title, or proper noun.
- To capitalize text or a letter again, or to restore capital letters to a word, name, title, or heading.
"The editor asked the typesetter to recapitalize the opening sentence."
"The designer had to recapitalize the logo after it was exported incorrectly."
"The revised edition recapitalizes several headings for consistency."
A small prefix can undo a major typographical mistake: recapitalize restores the uppercase letters that give names and titles their proper prominence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does recapitalize come from?
Recapitalize is formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning again, with capitalize, meaning to convert to capital letters. Capitalize comes through the Latin capitalis, meaning “of the head” or “chief,” from caput, “head,” and entered English during the early modern period. Recapitalize is a later compound, used when capitalization must be repeated or restored.
Related word forms
How recapitalize is actually used
The word is relatively formal and specialized, especially in publishing, design, and typography. In everyday usage, “capitalize” or “restore the capital letters” may sound more natural.
Easily confused with recapitalize
Recapitalize specifically means to restore or apply capital letters, whereas recase can refer more broadly to changing the capitalization pattern of text.
Capitalize means to convert words or letters to capitals, while recapitalize indicates doing this again or restoring capitalization that has been lost.