Piiri

Piiri is a Finnish noun with several related but distinct meanings. In everyday Finnish, it can refer to a circle or circular area—the boundary that defines a ring- or disk-shaped region—and more generally to any ring-shaped form. In this sense, use is often contextual and tied to shape or boundary rather than mathematical rigor.

Geographic and organizational sense: Piiri is also used to denote a district, ward, or subdivision within a larger entity. It marks a defined geographic or jurisdictional unit within organizations, authorities, or networks. Common contexts include police administration (poliisipiiri) and electoral or organizational groupings (vaalipiiri), where a piiri delineates a specific area or constituency.

Technological usage: In compound terms, piiri forms the word sähköpiiri, meaning an electrical circuit. Thus, in technology and engineering language, piiri can indicate a closed loop of conductors through which current flows.

Usage notes: The meaning of piiri depends on context. In everyday speech, it most often refers to a circle or a district-like area. In technical contexts, it appears in compounds describing circuits or loops. The word is a base form that appears in many compound nouns to specify the type of circle, district, or circuit being described.

See also: poliisipiiri (police district), vaalipiiri (electoral district), sähköpiiri (electrical circuit).