meritato

Meritato is an Italian adjective and past participle meaning deserved or earned. It is used to indicate that a result, reward, or achievement is the natural consequence of a person’s actions, efforts, or qualities.

Etymology and grammar: Meritato derives from the Latin meritus, the past participle of mereri, meaning to deserve. In Italian it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number: mer itato (masculine singular), meritata (feminine singular), meritati (masculine plural), merit ate (feminine plural). It is commonly used with nouns such as premio, successo, promozione, or lavoro to express that something is well deserved. By contrast, meritevole emphasizes inherent worthiness and is often used with different nuance.

Usage and nuance: The term conveys a sense of justification through merit and is typical in formal or evaluative language. It can describe people, achievements, or rewards: “una vittoria meritata,” “un salario meritato,” or “un riconoscimento meritato.” While meritato and meritevole are sometimes interchangeable, meritato focuses more on the outcome being deserved, whereas meritevole stresses worthiness or merit itself.

See also: Meritevole, Merito.