condanna

Condanna is an Italian noun that typically means condemnation or sentence. It is used in both legal and general contexts. The verb related to it is condannare, and the adjective form is condannato. In everyday language, condanna can also refer to moral or social disapproval expressed by individuals or institutions.

In a legal context, a condanna denotes a formal judgment by a court declaring a person guilty of a crime and imposing a penalty. The sentence may include imprisonment, fines, probation, or other sanctions defined by the penal code. The term highlights the outcome of a judicial decision rather than the procedural act of the trial itself, which is more precisely described by terms such as sentenza or verdetto.

A condanna can be appealed. Through appellate procedures (appello or ricorso), the sentence may be reviewed, modified, or overturned. When all appeals are exhausted, and the sentence is confirmed, it becomes definitiva and enforceable. If the defendant is acquitted, there is no condanna, but rather an assoluzione.

Outside criminal law, condanna can refer to the broader act of condemning an action or policy, or to public condemnation of behavior. This usage emphasizes judgment by society, authorities, or institutions rather than a court ruling.

Etymology traces condanna to Latin condemnare, meaning to condemn. The term remains central to discussions of guilt, punishment, and social judgment in Italian.