Tähtajalise

Tähtajaline is the Estonian adjective meaning fixed-term or time-limited. It describes something that has a predetermined duration and ends on a specified date or after a defined period. The word is formed from a concept related to a fixed deadline (tähtaeg) with the suffix -ajaline, which marks duration or time. In grammar, tähtajaline is the base form; forms like tähtajalise appear as inflected versions, for example in the genitive singular used with nouns (tähtajalise töölepingu).

Common contexts for tähtajaline include employment contracts (tähtajaline tööleping), rental agreements (tähtajaline üürileping), loans (tähtajaline laen), and appointments or positions held for a set term. The opposite concept is permanent or open-ended arrangements, typically described using terms such as püsiv or piiramatult kestva puhul, depending on the context.

In legal and administrative language, tähtajaline arrangements are associated with rules about duration, renewal, termination, and eligibility criteria. The term emphasizes that obligations and rights are defined for the term’s length and that the arrangement ends when the term expires unless renewed or extended.

In translation, tähtajaline is commonly rendered as "fixed-term" or "time-limited" in English. See also: tähtaeg (deadline), tööleping (employment contract), üürileping (lease), laenuleping (loan agreement).