esercizio

Esercizio is an Italian noun that denotes an act of exercising, training, or practicing. It has several related senses, including physical activity undertaken to improve fitness; a task or set of problems used to develop skills; and the act of using or exercising a right or authority. The singular is esercizio and the plural esercizi.

The word derives from Latin exercitium, from exercere "to train, to exercise." It has cognates in Romance languages, such as Spanish ejercicio, French exercice, Portuguese exercício, and Romanian exercițiu, reflecting a shared origin.

In educational contexts, esercizio or esercizi denote problems or drills, e.g., esercizi di matematica or esercizi di grammatica, completed to practice skills. Esercizio fisico refers to physical activity, from running to gym workouts. In legal or administrative language, one speaks of esercitare un diritto or l'esercizio dei poteri to describe exercising a right or authority.

The term can appear in idiomatic phrases and in discussions of routine, training, or discipline. Its breadth makes it a common entry in Italian dictionaries and language-learning materials.