Näytteistetty

Näytteistetty is a Finnish past participle adjective derived from the verb ”näytteistää,” meaning “to sample,” “to exhibit,” or “to preserve for reference.” In modern Finnish it is most frequently used to describe a set, collection, or piece that has been taken as a representative sample for study or display. The form is typically used in scientific, statistical, legal, and museum contexts.

In statistical and data‑analysis literature, a “näytteistetty joukko” is a sample drawn from a larger population for inference. The adjective indicates that the items in the group have been selected according to a sampling procedure and that they are thus representative of the whole. Finnish textbooks and papers on probability use the term in the same way as the English word “sampled.” The plural form can appear as “näytteistetyt ostos” when referring to multiple sampled items.

In taxonomy and natural history, botanists or zoologists refer to specimens that have been collected, preserved, and catalogued. A herbarium voucher that has been taken and stored is often called a “näytteistetty” specimen. This usage underscores the object’s role as a reference for future identification and comparison.

Legal and forensic contexts also employ the term. When evidence is preserved in a controlled environment for later examination, it might be described as “näytteistetty” to emphasize that it has been collected and stored according to protocol.

The root noun “näyte” (sample, example) gives rise to the participial form by adding the suffix –tett‌y, a standard pattern for forming past participles in Finnish. The adjective is typically followed by a noun that it modifies, e.g., “näytteistetty aineisto” (sampled material).

In everyday Finnish, “näytteistetty” is less common outside specialized fields. The word is primarily found in written texts that deal with data, specimens, or evidence. In casual speech, speakers might prefer simpler expressions such as “kokeellinen” (experimental) or “näyte” (sample), but “näytteistetty” remains the technical term for a subject that has undergone systematic sampling.