Kohaldatav

Kohaldatav is an Estonian adjective meaning applicable, usable in a given situation. It is formed from the verb kohaldama, “to apply” or “to use,” with the participial suffix -atav, creating a word that describes something that can be applied or used in a specific context. In general language, kohaldatav characterizes relevance and suitability rather than universal validity.

In legal and administrative contexts, kohaldatav refers to norms, rules, or laws that are in force for a particular matter or timeframe. Phrases such as kohaldatav riik, kohaldatav seadus, or kohaldatav õigus akt express that the rule or statute should be applied to the case at hand. The concept emphasizes contextual relevance: a rule may be valid in one jurisdiction or period and not in another if it does not apply or is superseded.

Beyond law, kohaldatav is used to describe methods, standards, or criteria that can be applied to a problem or dataset. The related noun kohaldatavus denotes applicability—the property of being usable in practice. The term is common in technical, regulatory, and policy texts where it is important to distinguish between what exists in principle and what can be practically applied to a given situation.

Etymology: kohaldatav is derived from kohaldama, “to apply,” with the suffix -atav, a common formation in Estonian to create adjectives meaning “capable of being applied.”