disputati

Disputati is a Latin term that can function as both a noun and a participial adjective. As a noun, it is the nominative plural masculine of disputatus, a participle meaning “having disputed,” and thus is used to refer to those who have disputed or, more precisely, the participants in a disputation. More commonly, it is understood as a plural noun disputati, meaning “the disputants” or “the debaters.” The root verb disputare means “to dispute, discuss, argue.”

In historical contexts, especially in medieval and early modern Latin, formal disputations were central to university pedagogy and rhetorical training. The participants in such disputations—students, masters, or faculty—could be described as disputati in narrative or doctrinal passages, signaling their role in the exchange of arguments rather than a settled conclusion. The term thus functions as a concise label for those engaged in scholastic debate, rather than a description of a specific doctrinal group.

Today, disputati is primarily of interest to students of Latin grammar and classical philology. It is not widely used in modern English texts except when quoted from Latin or when used as a proper noun or a stylized title. In English-language discussions, the more explicit terms disputanti, disputus, or simply disputation are usually preferred to convey the act of arguing or the participants in such a process.