accusata

Accusata is an Italian word that functions mainly as the feminine singular past participle of the verb accusare, meaning to accuse. In practice, accusata is used as an adjective meaning "accused" and can also serve as a noun to denote a woman who has been accused or charged in a legal context. The term derives from Latin accusatus, the past participle of accūsāre, and it agrees with the noun it modifies (for example, una persona accusata; le accusate for the feminine plural).

In legal and journalistic usage, l'accusata refers to a female defendant who has been formally charged or accused of a crime. The masculine counterpart is l'accusato, while another related term is imputato/imputata, which is often used to describe a person under investigation or formally charged, depending on the jurisdiction and procedural stage. In broader writing, accusata can appear in neutral descriptions or in more evaluative tones, depending on context.

Usage notes: while accusata is correct, some sources may prefer or alternate with imputata or imputato at different stages of proceedings. In everyday speech, speakers might opt for phrases like la persona accusata or la persona coinvolta to avoid specialized legal terminology.

Examples:

- L'accusata ha negato le accuse.

- Secondo l'accusa, l'accusata avrebbe agito da sola.