Individuare

Individuare is an Italian verb meaning to identify, to pinpoint, or to locate something or someone. It is used in everyday language to recognize a person or object, and in technical or professional contexts to determine the source of a problem, the position of a target, or the presence of a phenomenon. It can also imply a careful or systematic discovery beyond casual recognition.

Etymology: the verb is derived from the noun individuo, which comes from Latin individuum “undivided.” The Latin root itself traces to in- “not” and dividere “to divide.” The modern Italian infinitive is formed with the common -are ending and is widely employed across registers.

Usage: individuare is primarily transitive, taking a direct object. Common collocations include individuare un sospetto, un errore, la posizione di un oggetto, o la causa di un fenomeno. In everyday speech it conveys identification or location, while in scientific, investigative, or legal contexts it often implies a deliberate and methodical process. In formal registers, the verb can be substituted by identificare depending on nuance and style.

Individuazione is the corresponding noun meaning “the act of identifying” or, in philosophy, “the process of individuation.” In philosophical usage, individuation refers to the criteria by which a thing is distinguished as a distinct, self-contained entity, a concept connected to questions of identity, essence, and difference.

Variants and related terms: identificare (to identify in a formal sense), identificazione (identification), localizzare (to localize), and an adjective form such as individuabile (identifiable).