1. or rather; or else; used to introduce an alternative or correction
Usage: formal; literary

Examples

• The meeting will be held on Tuesday, ossia Wednesday if there are scheduling conflicts.
• He studied philosophy, ossia what he called the art of thinking.
• The price is fifty dollars, ossia whatever you can afford to pay.
• She spoke in Italian, ossia the language of her grandmother.
• The concert begins at eight, ossia when the conductor arrives.