Yksiselitteisen

Yksiselitteisen is the genitive singular form of the Finnish adjective yksiselitteinen, which means unambiguous or unequivocal. The term describes something that has a single, clear interpretation or meaning, such as a statement, rule, definition, or instruction. It is commonly used in legal, scientific, academic, and technical contexts where precision is important, but also appears in everyday language when clarity is emphasized.

The word is formed as a compound of yks (one) and a root related to clarity or explanation, conveying the idea of a single, plainly understood meaning. In usage, you may encounter phrases like yksiselitteinen tulkinta (a single, unambiguous interpretation) or yksiselitteiset ehdot (unambiguous terms).

Related forms include the noun yksiselitteisyys, meaning the property of being unambiguous, and the adverb yksiselitteisesti, meaning unambiguously or clearly. A common construction is yksiselitteisen tulkinnan mukaan, indicating interpretation according to a single clear meaning.

In terms of nuance, yksiselitteinen is often used to emphasize formal clarity and precision, especially in legal, regulatory, or methodological contexts. Its antonyms include epäselvä (ambiguous) and moniselitteinen (multi-meaning). While the term can appear in everyday language, its strongest connotations are those of exactness and determinacy, rather than general, loose precision.