usurpado

Usurpado is the participle form of the Spanish verb usurpar and is used as an adjective to indicate that something has been taken or exercised without rightful authority. It commonly describes power, offices, property, or rights that were obtained by force, deceit, or improper use rather than through legitimate means.

It derives from the Latin roots of the verb usurpar, forming the past participle with the suffix -ado; masculine form is usurpado and feminine form is usurpada. As a noun phrase, the term can describe the object of a usurpation (for example, el poder usurpado) rather than the person; the person involved might be referred to as un usurpador (the usurper).

In legal and political contexts, usurpación denotes the act of seizing authority or property unlawfully. Phrases such as usurpación de funciones, cargo usurpado, or territorio usurpado are common. In many jurisdictions, usurpación is treated as a wrongdoing or crime, and the usurpado element emphasizes the illegitimate status of the affected power or right.

Outside formal contexts, the term can describe metaphorical or historical situations, such as claims of illegitimate rule or disputed ownership. The word remains principally a descriptive term rather than a normative judgment.