defunto
deceased
adjective deh-FOON-toh Rare
Origin: Latin defunctus (having finished)
Also means
late (as in 'the late')
Usage Note
Defunto is used as both adjective and noun (il defunto = the deceased). It is a formal or literary term; in everyday speech Italians say morto or scomparso. When used before a name it conveys respectful formality: il defunto professore Rossi (the late Professor Rossi). Feminine: defunta.
Examples
"La famiglia del defunto ha ricevuto molti messaggi."
Natural Translation
The deceased's family received many messages.

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