Circulär

Circulär is a term used in Swedish to denote something that is circular or related to a circle. Etymologically it comes from Latin circulus, via the French circulaire and the English circular. In Swedish, the word can function both as an adjective and as a noun, depending on context.

As an adjective, circulär describes shapes, motions, or processes that are circular or cyclical. In physics or mathematics one might speak of circular motion or circular paths, while in everyday language it can refer to anything that takes a round form or proceeds in a looping manner.

As a noun, circulär (often written cirkulär in contemporary Swedish) refers to a circular letter or memorandum issued by an organization, department, or authority. Such circuläri are distributed to multiple recipients to convey information, instructions, or policy updates. They are common in governmental, corporate, and academic settings and typically follow a standardized format.

In modern usage, the concept also appears in sustainability and policy discourse as part of the term circular economy. A circular economy aims to minimize waste by keeping materials in use longer, through design for longevity, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. The related adjective cirkulär describes systems, products, and practices designed with circularity in mind.

In summary, circulär in Swedish encompasses both the literal sense of circular form and the more specialized administrative sense of a widely distributed notice, with a prominent contemporary usage in the field of circular economy.