Meaning
relay race, messenger
- a relay race in sports (athletics, swimming, etc.)
- a courier or liaison who delivers messages, especially in military or resistance contexts
In a sentence
La squadra italiana ha vinto la medaglia d'oro nella staffetta quattro per cento.
The Italian team won the gold medal in the four-by-one-hundred relay.
Durante la seconda guerra mondiale, molte donne hanno operato come staffette.
During World War II, many women served as dispatch couriers.
Chi correrà l'ultima frazione della staffetta domani pomeriggio?
Who will run the anchor leg of the relay tomorrow afternoon?
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| staffetta | feminine · singular |
| staffette | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- In sports, the physical baton is called 'il testimone', not 'la staffetta'.
- Also used metaphorically for a handover or generational transition ('staffetta generazionale').