Progressiivinen

Progressiivinen is a Finnish adjective meaning "progressive" or "advancing." It describes ideas, policies, or approaches that aim to promote gradual improvement, reform, or development. The term is used in political, social, and cultural contexts to convey a forward-looking orientation or an emphasis on reform rather than preservation of the status quo.

In political and economic discourse, progressiivinen often refers to policies intended to distribute benefits more evenly or to foster social reform. Common expressions include progressiivinen verotus (progressive taxation), where tax rates rise with income, and progressiivinen poliittinen agenda, indicating reformist or modernization-oriented goals. The word can also describe reformist movements, social policies, and attitudes favoring gradual institutional change.

Etymologically, progressiivinen derives from Latin progressivus, influenced by similar European forms such as French progressif or Swedish progressiv. In Finnish, the adjective has been in use since the 19th or early 20th century and remains widely used across everyday language and specialized discourse.

Other contexts include medicine, where progressiivinen can describe diseases or conditions that worsen over time or follow a progressive course. In arts and culture, the term appears in phrases like progressiivinen rock (progressive rock) or generally to denote experimental, complex, or forward-leaning styles and methods.

See also: progress, progressivism, progressive taxation, progressive era.