Oidentifierade

Oidentifierade is a Swedish adjective meaning “not identified” or “unidentified.” It is used to describe objects, persons, or phenomena that have not yet been confirmed or named. In modern Swedish, the form oidentifierad is used for singular common gender, oidentifierat for neuter, and oidentifierade for plural nouns. The adjective agrees with the noun it modifies.

Etymology and usage context: The word combines the negating prefix o- with the verb identifiera (to identify), following the pattern of many Swedish adjectives formed from verbs. The term is common in journalism, law enforcement, astronomy, aviation, and public reporting when the identity of something is unknown or under investigation.

Examples and common collocations: Typical phrases include oidentifierade föremål (unidentified objects) and oidentifierade personer (unidentified individuals). A well-known usage in Swedish media is oidentifierade flygande föremål, corresponding to the English term unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The phrase is often abbreviated in context but remains readable in full form.

Limitations and interpretation: The term does not imply intent or threat; it denotes the status of not yet identifying something at the time of reporting. Once identity is established, the phrase is superseded by the identifying term (identifierad) or a specific designation.

See also: identifiera, identifierad, unidentified flying object (UFO).