different between beheading vs decapitation

English

Etymology

From behead +? -ing

Verb

beheading

1. present participle of behead

Noun

beheading (countable and uncountable, plural beheadings)

1. An instance of a person being beheaded.

   A large crowd gathered to see the beheading.

   The guillotine was meant to humanize beheadings, but allowed the French Revolution to execute people at an industrial rate.

Synonyms

• decapitation
• decollation

Translations

See also

• subheading

English

Etymology

From French décapitation.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?kæp??te???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

decapitation (countable and uncountable, plural decapitations)

1. Beheading; the act of beheading or decapitating.

   If the headsman's axe was sharp and his aim was true, decapitation was a quick and relatively painless form of death

2. The ousting or destruction of the ruling body of a government or other organization.

   A decapitation strike carried out by drone killed many of the country's senior generals.

3. (politics) The unseating of a senior politician.

   The decapitation of the Foreign Secretary was a significant publicity coup for the opposition.

Synonyms

• beheading

Derived terms

• decapitation strike

Translations