Meaning
verdict, judgment, ruling
- sentence (for a crime)
- saying, maxim
- opinion
In a sentence
Il giudice ha letto la sentenza ieri mattina.
The judge read the verdict yesterday morning.
Hai sentito la sentenza del processo?
Did you hear the trial verdict?
Quella sentenza famosa dice una cosa semplice.
That famous saying says something simple.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| sentenza | feminine · singular |
| sentenze | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- In legal contexts, sentenza is the court’s final decision; verdetto is specifically a jury’s verdict, less general in Italian.
- For criminal punishment, use pena for the punishment itself; sentenza is the judicial act that imposes it.
- The meaning “saying/maxim” is literary or old-fashioned; in everyday speech, proverbio or frase fatta is usually more natural.