kelpaamaton

Kelpaamaton is a Finnish adjective meaning not acceptable or not suitable for a given purpose. It describes something that fails to meet required criteria, standards, or conditions, and is therefore ineligible for consideration in a particular decision, task, or evaluation. The term is commonly used in formal contexts such as procurement, job applications, grant processes, and administrative reviews, but it can also appear in everyday speech when referring to proposals, offers, or qualifications that do not satisfy set requirements.

Morphology and usage: kelpaamaton is formed with the negating suffix -ton attached to the root kelpa- (to be acceptable). The corresponding positive form is kelpaava, meaning acceptable, while kelvat... or kelvollinen can also be used as alternatives depending on nuance. The word is typically used before a noun, as in kelpaamaton tarjous (an unacceptable bid) or kelpaamaton hakemus (an ineligible application). It can also function predicatively: Tämä hakemus on kelpaamaton.

Related terms and nuance: kelpaamaton emphasizes the lack of meeting criteria rather than inherent worth. It is often contrasted with kelpaava or kelvollinen, which describe sufficiency or suitability. In legal, procurement, or educational contexts, identifying kelpaamattomuus (unacceptability or ineligibility) can trigger procedures for correction, resubmission, or rejection.

See also: Finnish qualifiers for eligibility, kelpaava, kelvollinen, kelpaamattomuus.