epäkelvoksi

Epäkelvoksi is a Finnish term used to indicate that someone or something is not eligible, not suitable, or not acceptable for a given purpose. The form is commonly used with the suffix -ksi to express that a person, action, or item is regarded as unfit for a specific role, task, or standard, such as being deemed epäkelvoksi todistajaksi (unfit as a witness) or epäkelvoksi kelpoisuudelle (unfit for eligibility).

In practice, epäkelvoksi appears mainly in formal or administrative contexts, including legal decisions, governing procedures, and official evaluations. It can refer to a person who is disqualified from holding a position, participating in a process, or providing valid testimony. It can also describe proposals, plans, or findings that fail to meet required criteria or standards and are therefore rejected as unsuitable. While most common in official discourse, the term may also surface in media or public discussion when making precise judgments about suitability or admissibility.

Etymology and related terms: epä- is the negating prefix in Finnish, and kelvoksi derives from kelvoton/kelvokas, meanings related to being fit or suitable. Thus epäkelvoksi literally means “not fit/acceptable.” Related words include kelvoton (unfit), kelvollinen (suitable/acceptable), and epäkelpoinen (unqualified or incapable), which carry overlapping but distinct nuances. The choice between these forms depends on the context and the degree of formality.