Tunnusmerkittävä

Tunnusmerkittävä is a Finnish adjective that translates to "characteristic," "distinguishing," or "significant" in English. It is used to describe something that is a notable or typical feature of a person, place, or thing. The word itself is a compound of "tunnus" meaning "mark," "sign," or "identifier," and "merkittävä" meaning "significant" or "important."

When something is described as tunnusmerkittävä, it implies that it is a key element that helps to identify or define what it refers to. For example, a particular architectural style might be tunnusmerkittävä for a city, meaning it is a defining feature that makes the city recognizable. Similarly, a specific behavior could be tunnusmerkittävä for a particular animal species, indicating it is a common and recognizable action associated with that animal. The term can also refer to a particularly important or noteworthy aspect within a broader context, highlighting its significance. It emphasizes uniqueness or a strongly representative quality.