<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2022 Workiva-->
<!--r:18736470-28a1-4d57-a445-e8fabe2573a3,g:52e4508a-8e2a-470c-9bd1-50d865d63c03-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.capitalone.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.capitalone.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended" id="i4bcccfa2b90245fdb6ec713bb8cd04aa_Cover">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_aa3cc165-4f95-4d1c-87ac-a4b6a11dbcdb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_aa3cc165-4f95-4d1c-87ac-a4b6a11dbcdb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_ccd745d5-4812-412b-881f-f42846e85897" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_ccd745d5-4812-412b-881f-f42846e85897" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2419473e-e948-4364-bdef-fac8bb92bd1c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2419473e-e948-4364-bdef-fac8bb92bd1c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_d6d2c4e5-829d-4115-9b7b-f116cc838c84" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_d6d2c4e5-829d-4115-9b7b-f116cc838c84" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_9224b7e5-4dab-40f1-9ffa-93a9c4de500a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_9224b7e5-4dab-40f1-9ffa-93a9c4de500a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_71ea28e9-e087-47b1-809f-0127dd27288c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_71ea28e9-e087-47b1-809f-0127dd27288c" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_734e3096-c2d9-4a69-98cb-6f9e7196a05c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_734e3096-c2d9-4a69-98cb-6f9e7196a05c" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_e5ed3bb0-2663-4f45-a8c3-10dc5db08ca2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_e5ed3bb0-2663-4f45-a8c3-10dc5db08ca2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_8cc86d4e-f7b7-46c8-bc06-6a19b28fcc2f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_8cc86d4e-f7b7-46c8-bc06-6a19b28fcc2f" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_b2ba19b3-1de8-4ba6-85ac-59b7fd8007a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_b2ba19b3-1de8-4ba6-85ac-59b7fd8007a8" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_3959bff2-7b63-480f-bb82-bb710c82abe5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_3959bff2-7b63-480f-bb82-bb710c82abe5" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_28ccf514-3539-47b1-b4e4-7d974d47a144" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_28ccf514-3539-47b1-b4e4-7d974d47a144" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_e230665c-5019-4c85-bc90-cba6f76c02f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_e230665c-5019-4c85-bc90-cba6f76c02f3" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_7fe87b03-9fcc-4b38-b403-96d38ceba950" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_7fe87b03-9fcc-4b38-b403-96d38ceba950" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_dcb666b8-bcef-40a8-8f12-de8fe6b9687a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_dcb666b8-bcef-40a8-8f12-de8fe6b9687a" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_da12948c-c168-4fdc-baf5-04fe302843c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_da12948c-c168-4fdc-baf5-04fe302843c3" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_4ac95fa0-54bf-42bd-97d8-f952191573ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_4ac95fa0-54bf-42bd-97d8-f952191573ac" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_33678756-400d-4576-bc35-6d2508a37944" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_33678756-400d-4576-bc35-6d2508a37944" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_bb8faeb3-a9a4-4676-af97-bfe6ea107a33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_bb8faeb3-a9a4-4676-af97-bfe6ea107a33" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_c89e8abf-6950-4391-8b91-7e70d52964bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_c89e8abf-6950-4391-8b91-7e70d52964bf" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_1948149f-9afb-4c97-ad1a-f4ee83f7dea1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_1948149f-9afb-4c97-ad1a-f4ee83f7dea1" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_b030e913-c750-401d-a2ac-c35a70965a78" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_b030e913-c750-401d-a2ac-c35a70965a78" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1bbfc6bf-a3ba-4d6e-9c75-8d89daa224f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntitiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_3a8ad7da-0729-45b1-aadd-a0226fa3eb5d" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1bbfc6bf-a3ba-4d6e-9c75-8d89daa224f3" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_ClassofSecuritiesAxis_842f5682-f858-44f3-a45e-770327e34e6e" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_ClassofSecuritiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1bbfc6bf-a3ba-4d6e-9c75-8d89daa224f3" xlink:to="loc_cof_ClassofSecuritiesAxis_842f5682-f858-44f3-a45e-770327e34e6e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SecurityClassDomain_842f5682-f858-44f3-a45e-770327e34e6e_default" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SecurityClassDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_cof_ClassofSecuritiesAxis_842f5682-f858-44f3-a45e-770327e34e6e" xlink:to="loc_cof_SecurityClassDomain_842f5682-f858-44f3-a45e-770327e34e6e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SecurityClassDomain_087af69d-2491-41b2-82b1-4ce8b8358634" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SecurityClassDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_cof_ClassofSecuritiesAxis_842f5682-f858-44f3-a45e-770327e34e6e" xlink:to="loc_cof_SecurityClassDomain_087af69d-2491-41b2-82b1-4ce8b8358634" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeniorNotesDue2024Member_e73bc055-5c75-45c5-8a5a-f3467b6a5f86" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeniorNotesDue2024Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_cof_SecurityClassDomain_087af69d-2491-41b2-82b1-4ce8b8358634" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeniorNotesDue2024Member_e73bc055-5c75-45c5-8a5a-f3467b6a5f86" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeniorNotesDue2029Member_2eaf73cd-a353-414b-ac68-81eb17e25eec" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeniorNotesDue2029Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_cof_SecurityClassDomain_087af69d-2491-41b2-82b1-4ce8b8358634" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeniorNotesDue2029Member_2eaf73cd-a353-414b-ac68-81eb17e25eec" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_441edbe9-15c5-4b63-9159-6eca09d0a39f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_1bbfc6bf-a3ba-4d6e-9c75-8d89daa224f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_441edbe9-15c5-4b63-9159-6eca09d0a39f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_441edbe9-15c5-4b63-9159-6eca09d0a39f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_441edbe9-15c5-4b63-9159-6eca09d0a39f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_441edbe9-15c5-4b63-9159-6eca09d0a39f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_441edbe9-15c5-4b63-9159-6eca09d0a39f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_41e57558-6cd3-4b4f-8ab7-411675ce3e62" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_41e57558-6cd3-4b4f-8ab7-411675ce3e62" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeriesIPreferredStockMember_20041a10-998d-4074-9ea9-0fd36f3df030" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeriesIPreferredStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeriesIPreferredStockMember_20041a10-998d-4074-9ea9-0fd36f3df030" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeriesJPreferredStockMember_005a63a9-3db8-4bf5-8768-95d1447ef97e" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeriesJPreferredStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeriesJPreferredStockMember_005a63a9-3db8-4bf5-8768-95d1447ef97e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeriesKPreferredStockMemberMember_1a5380ee-09bc-4658-a7ca-d3217a6249f9" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeriesKPreferredStockMemberMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeriesKPreferredStockMemberMember_1a5380ee-09bc-4658-a7ca-d3217a6249f9" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeriesLPreferredStockMemberMember_05fbf8ed-5fff-47ad-8032-99e6c00d26dd" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeriesLPreferredStockMemberMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeriesLPreferredStockMemberMember_05fbf8ed-5fff-47ad-8032-99e6c00d26dd" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cof_SeriesNPreferredStockMember_6395eb6d-376b-4cc2-80d0-b707899377b0" xlink:href="cof-20220315.xsd#cof_SeriesNPreferredStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_ebcc31e9-db00-483d-96a6-abd4867f2024" xlink:to="loc_cof_SeriesNPreferredStockMember_6395eb6d-376b-4cc2-80d0-b707899377b0" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
