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Glite Dictionary
decapitation

decapitation

20 8.6
The act of cutting off the head of a person or animal, usually to kill them
  • noun
  • /dɪˌkæpɪˈteɪʃən/
  • Offensive
translation icon : decapitación
  • In the horror film, the decapitation of the villain was a pivotal moment in the plot.
  • guillotine decapitation

So has one ever survived a decapitation?

Examples

  • In the case of guillotine decapitation, out of sight did not mean out of mind.

    Academic text (1995)

  • All four men died from decapitation.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • There is no firm evidence that these decapitations actually took place.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Decapitation and the display of the heads were common in war and political rivalry.

    Academic text (1998)

  • His head and first cervical vertebra are missing, indicating possible decapitation.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Roughly 90 percent of the dead showed evidence of scalping, and indications of decapitation were seen in about 25 percent of the victims.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The decapitation of the king shocked the nation and led to widespread unrest.

  • The documentary highlighted the ancient practice of decapitation as a form of punishment.

Synonyms

beheading
vsdecapitation
  • Offensive
25 8.6

Killing someone by cutting off their head

is broader, covering animals as well as humans and executions
decollation
vsdecapitation
  • NSFW
9.9

Cutting off a person's head as a punishment

is the broader act also applying to animals as well as people

Surface Forms

decapitation singular
decapitations plural

Morphology

decapitation = decapitate (opaque) = de + capit + ate + ion

For learners who know the verb 'decapitate', the noun 'decapitation' is a straightforward action noun formed with '-ion'.

Etymology

Decapitation comes from the Latin parts de- 'off' and caput 'head'. So, it simply means 'taking the head off', which is why decapitation refers to cutting off a person or animal's head.