kuasi

Kuasi is a prefix used in Indonesian to indicate partial resemblance, semi-status, or near-ness to something, rather than full embodiment. It is borrowed from the Latin word quasi, meaning almost, nearly, or resembling. In modern Indonesian, kuasi- is a productive form in academic, legal, administrative, and scientific terminology.

The prefix combines with nouns and adjectives to form terms that describe something that is not entirely of the described type but shares key characteristics. Examples include kuasi-otonom (quasi-autonomous) and kuasi-yudisial or kuasi-judisial (quasi-judicial). In science and engineering contexts, kuasi- can appear in phrases such as kuasi-stasioner (quasi-stationary) to express near-stable or intermediate conditions. The exact sense conveyed depends on context, but common threads are partial fulfillment, resemblance, or transitional status rather than full compliance or identity.

Usage notes include that kuasi- typically modifies the notion it attaches to, signaling that the described entity operates or appears like the concept in question but does not fully meet its criteria. It is distinct from related terms that convey outright absence or imitation, such as pseudo- or semi-, and from full, authorized categories.

In Indonesian lexicography, kuasi- is treated as a standard prefix rather than a standalone word. It appears in formal writing, policy documents, and technical literature, helping speakers describe nuanced or transitional states without altering the base term.

See also: quasi-, pseudo-, semi-; prefixes in Indonesian related to degree or resemblance.