afmarkað

Afmarkað is an Icelandic adjective meaning demarcated, delineated, or clearly defined. It describes boundaries, jurisdictions, or conceptual scopes that are precisely outlined. The term derives from the prefix af- and the verb afmarka, meaning to demarcate or set apart, signaling the act of drawing a boundary.

In practical use, afmarkað is common in geographic, administrative, and legal contexts. A demarcated area is described as afmarkað svæði, and a clearly defined role or responsibility may be called afmarkað hlutverk. The word also appears in policy or budget language to indicate the limits of a programme or jurisdiction, such as afmarkað verkefnasvið or afmarkað tímabil (a defined period). In linguistic or analytical discussions, afmarkað can characterize data or categories that are intentionally separated from others.

Afmarkað is formed with the prefix af- attached to the verb afmarka (to demarcate). The concept is closely related to English terms such as demarcation, boundary, and delineation, and it is used to convey precision and separation from more fluid or ambiguous cases. It is a productive descriptor in both everyday language and formal discourse when indicating clearly bounded areas, rights, or criteria. See also demarcation, boundary, and delineation.

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