difeso

Difeso is an Italian term that derives from the verb difendere, meaning to defend or protect. It principally functions as the masculine singular past participle of difendere and is used as an adjective meaning defended or protected. The corresponding forms are difesa (feminine singular and also a noun meaning defense or protection), difesi (masculine plural), and difese (feminine plural). In everyday language, it can appear in constructions like “un edificio difeso” or “un’area difesa,” though such expressions are not extremely common in casual speech.

In legal language, difeso is also used as a noun to designate the person who is being defended by a lawyer—the defendant or client. The phrase “il difeso” appears in court documents and reporting to refer to the person represented by counsel. This usage is typical of formal or juridical registers and contrasts with the more general meaning of defend or defended.

Difeso can also be found, though rarely, as a surname in Italian-speaking regions. As with many participial adjectives, its use depends on gender and number, pairing with the noun it modifies, while the related noun difesa denotes defense or protection in a broader sense.