Kohtuuton

Kohtuuton is a Finnish adjective meaning unreasonably or excessively in the sense of being beyond what is fair, acceptable, or affordable. It is used to describe demands, prices, costs, or conditions that are considered excessive in relation to what is warranted or reasonable. The term appears in everyday speech as well as in journalism, public debate, and policy discussions.

The word is formed from the adjective kohtuullinen, meaning reasonable, with the negating suffix -ton. A related adverb is kohtuutomasti, used to describe actions or situations done in an unreasonable or excessive manner. In plural phrases, you can encounter forms like kohtuutomat hinnat (unreasonable prices) or kohtuutomat vaatimukset (unreasonable demands). Predicative forms include phrases such as hinta on kohtuuton (the price is unreasonable) and hinnat ovat kohtuutomia (the prices are unreasonable).

Kohtuuton is commonly deployed to criticize pricing, workloads, regulations, or obligations that are viewed as unjustifiably burdensome or costly. It often appears in consumer protection, labor discussions, and political discourse, where opponents argue that a policy or business practice is kohtuuttomasti disadvantageous to individuals or groups. While the term conveys strong judgment, it remains a standard part of neutral or evaluative Finnish language, distinguishable from milder terms like kohtuullinen or järkevä.

See also: kohtuullinen, kohtuutomuus/kohtuutuvuus (concepts related to reasonableness and unreasonableness).