Virallistaa

Virallistaa is a Finnish verb meaning to render something official or to formalize it through official recognition, procedures, or documentation. It describes the act of moving a matter from a non-official or informal state into an officially acknowledged one, so that it carries legal or formal authority. Common contexts include making agreements, decisions, or registrations official, or validating statuses and records.

Etymology and form: Virallistaa is formed from the adjective virallinen (official) with the Finnish causative/derivational suffix -istaa, which creates verbs meaning “to cause to become/turn into” or “to make into.” The word is used in administrative, legal, and organizational language to express the process of formalization.

Usage: The verb is transitive and used with objects that can be made official, such as documents, contracts, decisions, or registrations. It often appears in discussions of governance, corporate administration, and public services. Nouns related to the process include virallistaminen (the act of formalizing) and virallistettu (made official).

Examples:

- Sopimus on virallistettava ennen voimaantuloa. (The contract must be formalized before it comes into effect.)

- Hallitus päätti virallistamisesta uudessa rekisterissä. (The government decided on formalizing it in the new registry.)

- Hankkeen virallistaminen vaatii valtion hyväksynnän. (Formalizing the project requires government approval.)

See also: official, formalization, registration, approval, validation.