Ovillkorlig

Ovillkorlig is a Swedish adjective meaning unconditional or not subject to any conditions. It is formed from the prefix o- meaning not, attached to villkorslig, which derives from villkor (condition) plus the suffix -lig. The term is used across disciplines and everyday language to describe absoluteness or a lack of provisos.

In everyday language, ovillkorlig describes attitudes, promises, or states that do not depend on performance, behavior, or other factors. Examples include ovillkorlig kärlek (unconditional love) and ovillkorsfri stöd (unconditional support). In psychology, the related concept of unconditional positive regard refers to accepting and valuing a person without judgment, a term popularized by Carl Rogers and widely discussed in Swedish-language psychology literature as ovillkorlig positiv omtanke or ovillkorsfri positiv omtanke.

In philosophy and logic, ovillkorlig is used to discuss propositions or conditions that hold universally, independent of any other circumstances. In law, diplomacy, and ethics, the term can describe obligations, guarantees, or capitulations that are not contingent on additional conditions, such as an ovillkorlig kapitulation (unconditional surrender).

The word contrasts with villkorlig and betingad (both meaning conditional or conditioned). While ovillkorlig conveys absoluteness, its practical application is often debated, especially in human relationships and social policy, where absolute claims may clash with nuanced contexts. Nevertheless, the term remains common in discourse about love, support, moral duties, and formal agreements presented as unconditional.