cosiddette

Cosiddette is an Italian adjective meaning "so-called." It is used to indicate that a term, label, or designation is widely used or popularly applied but considered questionable, controversial, or not universally accepted by the speaker. The expression can convey a subtle note of skepticism or irony, depending on context, and is common in journalism, academic writing, and everyday speech.

Origin and forms: cosiddetto is the base form, from così (thus) + detto (said). The adjective follows regular Italian inflection: cosiddetto (masc. sing.), cosiddetta (fem. sing.), cosiddetti (masc. plur.), cosiddette (fem. plur.). The feminine plural cosiddette is used before feminine plural nouns, for example le teorie cosiddette, le persone cosiddette.

Usage: cosiddette typically precedes the noun it modifies, though it can occur after the noun in parenthetical usage. It serves to critique or distance the speaker from the label being applied: le cosiddette riforme, i cosiddetti esperti, i cosiddetti standard. The term can be neutral in some contexts but more often carries a critical or evaluative nuance.

Limitations and notes: cosiddette should not be used indiscriminately with proper nouns or formal titles; its effect is rhetorical rather than descriptive. In some contexts, it may be perceived as dismissive, so writers choose it to signal methodological caution or skepticism about the legitimacy of a label.

See also: related forms cosiddetto, cosiddetta, cosiddetti; the broader Italian practice of using evaluative modifiers before nouns.