What does capacious mean?
Capacious describes something with abundant internal space: a container, room, or garment that can hold a great deal. It derives from the Latin verb capere, meaning to take or hold, via capax, 'able to contain much', which also gives English words such as capacity, capable, and captive. In modern usage it appears most often with physical objects — a capacious handbag, hall, or coat pocket — where it suggests not just largeness but a pleasing, practical roominess. The word also has an established figurative sense: a capacious mind or memory is one that takes in a wide range of ideas or facts without strain. Capacious is moderately formal in register, appearing more frequently in literature, reviews, and polished prose than in casual conversation, and it generally carries a favorable tone, implying generosity of space or intellect rather than emptiness or excess. Its near-anagram captious, meaning overly critical, is an unrelated word sometimes confused with it.
adjectiveHaving a great deal of space inside; able to hold or contain much. Also used figuratively of a mind or intellect that is broad and receptive.
- (Of a container, room, or garment) having ample interior space; able to hold much.
- (Figuratively) (of a mind, memory, or understanding) broad, comprehensive, and receptive.
"She packed her entire library into one capacious leather satchel."
"The coat's capacious pockets swallowed his keys, wallet, phone, and a paperback."
"He was known for his capacious intellect, equally at home in physics and philosophy."
Capacious comes from the Latin capax, 'able to hold much' — the same root that gives us captive and capacity, so a capacious bag is literally something with a talent for capturing things.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of capacious
Capacious entered English in the early 17th century from Latin capax, capacious, meaning 'able to hold much', itself formed on the verb capere, 'to take or hold'. The same Latin root produced capacity and capable through Old French, and underlies related borrowings such as captive and receive. Its cognates across Romance languages include French capacieux and Italian capace.
Related word forms
How capacious is actually used
Capacious is a somewhat formal or literary word, more common in written than everyday spoken English. It carries a positive connotation of generous, comfortable roominess rather than mere size, and its figurative use for minds and memories is well established.
Easily confused with capacious
Capacious means large or roomy, while captious means tending to find fault or raise petty objections — the two are near-anagrams but unrelated in meaning.