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reato

crime

noun reh-AH-toh Less Common

Origin: from Latin 'reatus', state of accusation

Also means

offense

Usage Note

Reato is the legal term for a punishable offense; its plural is reati. To commettere un reato is 'to commit a crime'. It is more technical than the everyday crimine and appears throughout Italian law and news reports.

Examples

"Ha commesso un grave reato."

Natural Translation

He committed a serious crime.

Literal Translation

Has committed a serious crime.

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