engajado

Engajado is a Portuguese adjective and noun used to describe a person who is actively involved, committed, and mobilized in social, political, cultural, or professional causes. It is derived from the verb engajar, meaning to pledge, involve, or enlist, with engajado functioning as the past participle used attributively. The related noun engajamento denotes the state or quality of being engaged, including sustained effort and investment of time, energy, or resources.

In Brazilian Portuguese, engajado commonly characterizes activists, volunteers, workers, or citizens who participate actively in movements, campaigns, or organizations. It contrasts with desengajado (disengaged or apathetic) and with engajamento as a broader concept of commitment that can apply in workplaces, civil society, or political life. The term can carry positive connotations of dedication, though in some contexts it may be used critically to signal performative advocacy or zeal.

Engajado appears in journalism, academic writing, and public discourse on civic participation, labor relations, and cultural production. In corporate language, engajamento translates as employee or audience engagement. Related terms include engajar (to engage or commit), engajamento (engagement), ativismo (activism), and participação (participation).