Pakotetut

Pakotetut is a Finnish noun formed from the verb pakottaa (to force). It denotes people who have been forced to act or endure something against their will; the emphasis is on coercion rather than voluntary choice. The word is commonly used in historical, sociological, and legal contexts to refer to individuals or groups subjected to duress, such as relocation, detention, or forced labor. The plural form pakotetut refers to more than one person, while the singular pakotettu means "the forced one."

In historical writing, pakotetut can describe civilians displaced by conflict, deportees, or workers compelled to labor under threats. In modern discussions, the term is sometimes used in analyses of coercion, human rights, and migration studies, though it does not specify a formal legal status. Instead it conveys the experience of powerlessness or constraint. Because the term focuses on coercion rather than origin or identity, its exact meaning depends on context and sources. It may be paired with more precise descriptors, such as forced labor, forced relocation, or forced recruitment, to specify the form of coercion involved.

See also: pakko (coercion), pakolainen (refugee), pakotettu (the forced).