decapitation

1. Beheading; the act of beheading or decapitating. (countable, uncountable) · 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. (countable, uncountable) · A decapitation strike carried out by drone killed many of the country's senior generals.
3. The unseating of a senior politician. (countable, uncountable) · The decapitation of the Foreign Secretary was a significant publicity coup for the opposition.

Plural decapitations