sostituto

Sostituto is an Italian noun (masculine; feminine sostituta; plural sostituti or sostitute) meaning a person or thing that takes the place of another or serves as a surrogate. The term is derived from the verb sostituire, which in turn comes from Latin substitūere, formed from sub- “under” or “close to” and stāre “to stand.”

In everyday use, sostituto denotes a person who temporarily or permanently assumes someone else’s role or function. This includes a substitute teacher, a substitute for a colleague, or a backup player in sports. The word can also describe a stand-in for a person in various positions, such as a temporary manager or an interim official.

As a thing, sostituto can refer to an object or product that acts as a replacement. For example, a sostituto alimentare is a food substitute or substitute ingredient used when the original item is unavailable or unsuitable.

In Italian law and public administration, sostituto has specialized meanings. The sostituto d’imposta is the entity required to withhold taxes at source and remit them to the authorities; in employment contexts, the employer commonly acts as sostituto d’imposta for wages. The term can also appear in other legal contexts to indicate a substitute party in contracts or proceedings.

Usage notes: sostituto emphasizes replacement in place of another, whereas synonyms exist depending on context (surrogato, proxy, sostituta in feminine form). The word is widely understood across formal and informal speech.