rappresentante

Rappresentante is a term used in Italian to denote a person who represents others or acts on their behalf in a variety of contexts. It describes someone authorized to speak or act for an individual, a company, an organization, or a group. The word derives from the Latin repraesentare.

Common uses of the term include several professional and social roles. In commerce, a rappresentante di commercio (sales representative) is a professional who promotes, negotiates, and can conclude sales for a principal’s products or services. This role is typically contract-based and remunerated by commission, and it may be performed directly by the agent or through intermediaries. The agente di commercio operates under a mandate that defines the scope of authority and the duties toward the principal and clients.

In legal or organizational contexts, the rappresentante legale is the person authorized to act on behalf of a company or organization in juridical matters. This authority may be established by the company’s governing documents or by a specific procura, which grants powers for particular acts or categories of acts.

Within the workplace, the rappresentante sindacale or RSU (rappresentante unitario) refers to a workers’ or union representative involved in negotiations and safeguarding employee rights. In educational settings, a rappresentante di classe serves as a student representative, acting as a liaison between classmates and school administration.

Beyond these, the term can denote diplomatic or political figures such as rappresentanti diplomatici, as well as other delegated representatives in public life. The concept of rappresentanza encompasses the legal and ethical mechanics by which authority is conferred and exercised on behalf of others.