capo

1 of 2

noun (1)

ca·​po ˈkā-(ˌ)pō How to pronounce capo (audio)
plural capos
: a movable bar attached to the fingerboard of a fretted instrument to uniformly raise the pitch of all the strings

capo

2 of 2

noun (2)

ca·​po ˈkä-(ˌ)pō How to pronounce capo (audio) ˈka- How to pronounce capo (audio)
plural capos
: the head of a branch of a crime syndicate

Examples of capo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Neither is his 65-year-old capo in the Stoughton heist crew, Calvin Butner. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026 The routine is led by another Oljeberget capo, who stands in front of the supporters. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 June 2026 His death is the most significant takedown of a Mexican drug capo since the capture of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026 Trump seems to imagine a hierarchical system dominated by a single capo whose removal collapses the organization—a model rooted in the 1980s. — Javier Corrales, Time, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for capo

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for capotasto, from Italian, literally, head of fingerboard

Noun (2)

Italian, head, chief, from Latin caput

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1926, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capo was in 1926

Phrases Containing capo

Rhymes for capo

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Browse Nearby Words

cap nut
capo
capoc
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Cite this Entry

“Capo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capo. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

capo

noun
ca·​po
ˈkā-pō
plural capos
: a bar that can be fitted on the fingerboard especially of a guitar to raise the pitch of all the strings
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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