opportunistici

Opportunistici is the plural masculine form of the Italian adjective opportunistico, used to describe actions, attitudes, or strategies that are opportunistic: they seek immediate advantage by exploiting favorable circumstances, often with limited regard for long-term principles or consistency.

Origin and meaning: the term derives from opportunità (opportunity), from Latin opportunus, meaning favorable or timely. The suffix -istico marks it as an adjective indicating a characteristic or approach. In Italian, it is commonly employed to label behaviors or plans that prioritize short-term gain.

Usage and nuance: opportunistici typically modify nouns such as comportamenti, strategie, or atteggiamenti. The term usually carries a negative or pejorative nuance, signaling a pragmatic but morally or ideologically opportunistic stance. It appears in political, economic, business, and sociological discourse, as well as journalism.

Related terms and contrasts: opportunismo is the related noun representing opportunism as a system or practice; opportunista refers to a person who acts opportunistically. Some discussions distinguish between pragmatic flexibility and opportunistic behavior, noting that the latter can involve inconsistency, self-interest, or opportunely timed shifts.

Context and limits: the label is value-laden and context-dependent; what counts as opportunistic in one setting may be described as opportunistic prudence in another. The term is more common in critical or analytical writing and less common in neutral, purely descriptive discourse.