likimääräinen

Likimääräinen is a Finnish adjective meaning approximately or rough in the sense of not being exact. It is used to describe values, measurements, estimates, or conclusions that are close to the real figure rather than precise. The term signals that precision is not claimed or required in the given context.

The word is common in science, statistics, engineering, and everyday speech. Typical phrases include likimääräinen arvo (an approximate value), likimääräinen mittaus (an approximate measurement), and likimääräinen ratkaisu (an approximate solution). The adverb form likimääräisesti is used to describe how something is done in an approximate manner, as in “tulokset ovat likimääräisesti määriteltyjä” or “arvioidaan likimääräisesti.”

Morphology and usage notes: likimääräinen declines like other Finnish adjectives of the -inen type, changing form to agree with the noun it modifies. It is roughly the antonym of tarkka or täsmällinen, which denote precision and exactness. In many contexts, simpler expressions such as noin or melkein can convey a similar sense of approximation without explicitly labeling the value as an estimate.

Etymology and scope: likimääräinen derives from the concept of a rough or approximate figure and the standard Finnish adjective suffix -inen. The term is widely used in technical writing, data reporting, and everyday language to distinguish between exact and estimated information. When exact values are required, other terms or mathematical methods are typically employed.