vendetta

UK: /vɛnˈdɛtə/ US: /vɛnˈdɛtə/ ,(ven det′ə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ven•det•ta /vɛnˈdɛtə/   n. [countable] , pl. -tas. 

1. a long and bitter argument, feud, rivalry, or the like, esp. between families.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ven•det•ta  (ven det′ə), n. 

1. a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder by killing the slayer or one of the slayer's relatives, esp. such vengeance as once practiced in Corsica and parts of Italy.
2. any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention, or the like:
   a political vendetta.

• Latin vindicta vengeance; see vindictive
• Italian
• 1850–55

ven•det′tist, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vendetta / vɛnˈdɛtə/ noun

1. a private feud, originally between Corsican or Sicilian families, in which the relatives of a murdered person seek vengeance by killing the murderer or some member of his or her family
2. any prolonged feud, quarrel, etc

Etymology: 19th Century: from Italian, from Latin vindicta, from vindicāre to avenge; see vindicate

venˈdettist noun