defunta

Defunta is a term used in Romance languages, primarily Spanish and Portuguese, to refer to a person who has died. As an adjective, it describes someone who is dead; as a noun, it can denote the deceased person, usually a woman. In contemporary Spanish, the more common expressions are fallecido or fallecida, with defunta appearing in formal, literary, or legal contexts. In Portuguese, defunta is frequently used as a noun to signify a deceased female in legal or genealogical settings, while the masculine form defunto is used for men.

Etymologically, defunta derives from the Latin defunctus, with the feminine ending -a in the Romance languages. The pair defunto/defunta corresponds to the masculine and feminine forms of the same concept, death or deceased person. The term carries a formal or solemn register and is more likely to be found in official documents, obituaries, or religious texts than in everyday speech.

Usage notes and context: defunta can function both as an adjective and as a noun. When used as a noun, it often appears with definite articles (la defunta, a defunta) in reference to a specific deceased woman, particularly in obituaries or probate records. In many modern contexts, speakers prefer synonyms such as fallecida/falecida or falecido/falecido, which are perceived as more neutral or contemporary. The term is gendered and must agree with the gender of the person it describes or refers to.

See also: defunción, defunto, fallecimiento, obituary.