Sinistri

Sinistri is an Italian term with several related meanings, depending on context. As an adjective, sinistro describes something related to the left side of the body or a left-hand position. Examples include la mano sinistra (the left hand) and il lato sinistro del veicolo (the left side of the vehicle). In anatomy, geography, and everyday usage, sinistro remains a neutral descriptor of left orientation.

As a noun in insurance language, sinistro designates an insured event that causes a loss and requires a payment or settlement. The plural sinistri refers to multiple such events or claims. Typical phrases include denuncia di sinistro (filing a claim), gestione dei sinistri (claims handling), sinistri aperti (open claims) and sinistri chiusi (closed claims). The term is common in Italian insurance documentation and may appear in translations or cross-border agreements using Italian terminology.

As a surname, Sinistri exists but is relatively uncommon and appears in Italian records.

Etymology: Sinistro derives from Latin sinister meaning the left side. The term has historically carried associations with harm or misfortune, which explains related phrases in older usage. In modern Italian, the left-side sense is neutral, while the negative associations are more historical or contextual. The English word sinister is a cognate, though it is not used in contemporary Italian with the same sense.

See also: sinistral, sinistrality, sinister.