Prilagoavanje

Prilagođavanje is a noun used in several South Slavic languages to denote the process of making something suitable for a new condition or environment. It implies adjusting to changes in surroundings, requirements, or circumstances. The related verb is prilagoditi and the adjective prilagođen; in non-diacritic texts it may appear as prilagoavanje.

In biology and ecology, prilagođavanje refers to how organisms become better matched to their surroundings. This includes genetic adaptation that arises over generations, as well as phenotypic plasticity and acclimatization that occur within an individual’s lifetime. Adaptations can affect morphology, physiology, behavior, and life-history traits.

In technology, business, and culture, prilagođavanje describes tailoring products, processes, or practices to new users, markets, regulations, or conditions. It encompasses customization, configuration, organizational changes, and social learning necessary to fit different environments or requirements.

In policy and planning, prilagođavanje is widely used in the context of climate change adaptation, referring to measures that reduce vulnerability and increase resilience by adjusting infrastructure, land use, workflows, and community practices to anticipated conditions.

Distinguishing terms, prilagođavanje is a broad concept of adjustment. It is related to but distinct from acclimatization (short-term physiological adjustment in an organism) and from evolutionary adaptation (genetic changes across generations). The concept is relevant across natural and social sciences as well as engineering and governance.