Soveltamaton

Soveltamaton is a Finnish adjective describing something that is not suitable, not applicable, or not appropriate for a given purpose, situation, or set of requirements. It can refer to a person, a proposal, an object, or a method that fails to meet the necessary criteria or conditions for a task or context. The term often appears in formal, administrative, or evaluative language, where decision-makers assess whether something can be used or carried out as planned.

Etymology and form: Soveltamaton is formed from the verb soveltua, meaning “to be suitable,” with the negating suffix -maton. The opposite form is soveltuva (suitable) or the noun soveltuvuus (fitness or suitability). The word can describe both concrete and abstract suitability, ranging from employment to policy choices.

Usage and contexts: Common contexts include employment and recruitment, education, safety and compliance, and project planning. Examples include statements that a candidate is soveltamaton tehtävään (unsuitable for the task) or that a proposed measure is soveltamaton nykytilanteeseen (inappropriate for the current situation). The expression emphasizes a lack of compatibility with required criteria rather than a moral judgment.

Related terms and nuance: Synonyms or near-synonyms include sopimaton (inappropriate or unsuitable) and kelvoton (unacceptable or defective), which carry slightly different connotations. Related linguistic concepts include soveltuvuus (fitness or suitability) and soveltaminen (application or implementation).

See also: soveltuvuus, soveltuva, kelvoton, sopimaton.