valenza
value; valence
noun vah-LEN-tsah Rare
Origin: From Latin valentia (strength, capacity).
Also means
significance
Usage Note
Valenza is used in chemistry to mean valence (the combining capacity of an element), but in everyday Italian it has broadened to mean the significance, weight, or symbolic value of something: una scelta di grande valenza politica (a choice of great political significance). Plural: le valenze.
Examples
"Il gesto ha una valenza simbolica importante."
Natural Translation
The gesture has important symbolic value.

Free starter pack
Building your Italian vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore Italian by topic