Capital City - Terminology

Terminology

The word capital derives from the Latin caput meaning "head".

In several English-speaking states, the terms county town, county seat, and borough seat are also used in lower subdivisions. In unitary states, sub-national capitals are commonly known as "administrative centres".

An alternative term is political capital, but this phrase has a second meaning based on an alternate sense of the word capital. The capital is often, but not necessarily, the largest city of its constituent area.