Olulikkus

Olulikkus is a noun in Estonian that denotes the quality of being important, relevant, or consequential in a given context. In scholarly and professional discourse, the term is used to describe how much a particular fact, argument, or detail matters for a specific purpose. It emphasizes practical relevance rather than general value, and it is often evaluated relative to a goal, audience, or decision to be made.

Etymology: Olulikkus is formed from the adjective oluline, meaning important, with the derivational suffix -kus, which marks an abstract noun. The word thus conveys the state or property of importance in a contextual sense.

Usage: In philosophy and logic, olulikkus describes the relevance of a proposition to the central issue under consideration. In research and data analysis, it assesses the practical significance of findings or variables. In journalism, design, and information architecture, olulikkus guides prioritization, helping editors or designers decide which details to present.

Contexts: The concept is typically distinguished from broader notions of value or sheer importance by its dependency on purpose and audience. It is also related to terms such as relevance, significance, and applicability, though olulikkus more explicitly frames usefulness within a specific aim.

See also: relevance, significance, importance, applicability.