Voimassa

Voimassa is a Finnish term meaning in force, valid, or effective. It is used to describe statutes, regulations, contracts, and other rules that are currently legally binding or applicable. The word is formed from voima (power, force) with the inessive suffix -ssa, indicating a state or condition.

In legal and administrative language, voimassa is most often used to state status, for example: Laki on voimassa (The law is in force) or Sopimus on voimassa toistaiseksi (The contract is in effect indefinitely). A related construction is laki tulee voimaan [date], which means the law comes into force on that date. The noun form voimaantulo refers to the act or moment of entering into force, while voimaantunut describes something that has already become enforceable.

Voimassa can also appear in phrases describing the scope or period of applicability, such as voimassaolo (the period of validity) or voimassa olevat säännöt (rules that are currently in force). The status can change through repeal, amendment, or replacement, at which point the item is no longer in voimassa.

Etymology and related terms: voimassa is derived from voima (power/force) with the inessive -ssa. Related concepts include voima, voimaantulo, and voimassaolo, which together cover the lifecycle from entering into force to ongoing validity and eventual repeal.

See also: Finnish legal terminology, sources on Finnish law, and dictionaries documenting the forms voima, voimaantulo, and voimassaolo.