offesa

Offesa is an Italian noun meaning offense, insult, or injury to a person’s honor or dignity. It is a feminine singular noun formed from the verb offendere (to offend) and is commonly used in everyday language as un'offesa or l'offesa, with the plural le offese or offese in general usage. The elided form un'offesa is especially frequent in speech and writing.

Etymology and sense

Offesa derives from Latin offensa, itself from offendere. In Italian, the term covers concrete acts perceived as insulting or injurious, as well as more abstract harms to reputation or feeling. The word can describe a personal affront as well as broader affronts to dignity in social or legal contexts.

Usage

In ordinary discourse, people talk about prendersi un'offesa (to take offense) or fare un'offesa (to commit an offense). In formal or legal-adjacent language, the concept is often linked to offenses against honor, with phrases such as offesa all'onore. While related terms in Italian law include ingiuria (insult) and diffamazione (defamation), offesa remains a general term for injury to esteem or reputation.

Notes

Offesa is primarily a common Italian term rather than a geographical or organizational name. Its usage spans everyday conversation and more formal discussions of personal honor, etiquette, and, to some extent, civil or criminal jurisprudence.

See also

Ingiuria, Diffamazione, Offense (general concept in other languages)