Reilummaksi

Reilummaksi is a Finnish linguistic term describing the comparative form of the adjective reilu, meaning fair, equitable, or honest. It is used to express that something is more fair than something else or to indicate a change toward greater fairness. In practice, reilummaksi appears as a predicative complement after verbs that denote becoming or making, such as tulla (to become) or tehdä (to make).

Usage examples include: “Päätökset tehtiin reilummammiksi” (The decisions were made more fair) and “Sääntöjä pyritään tekemään reilummammiksi” (Efforts are being made to make the rules fairer). The form emphasizes a change in fairness, rather than a static comparison between two existing states.

Formation and grammar: reilummaksi is formed from the stem reilu- plus the derivational suffix -mmaksi, which marks a comparative degree in predicative use. In Finnish, this suffix is commonly used to express a shift in quality when describing processes or changes, frequently with verbs like tulla, mennä, or tehdä. The base comparative of reilu is reilumpi, but reilummaksi specifically conveys becoming or making something more fair in a given context.

Context and relevance: the term appears in discussions about policies, procedures, or behavior where fairness is a goal or outcome. It is typically used in formal or media language to describe efforts to increase fairness rather than to compare two static instances directly.

See also: reilu, reilumpi, Finnish grammar on comparative forms.