niepisanym

Niepisanym is the instrumental singular form of the Polish adjective niepisany, meaning unwritten or not written down. The term is used to describe norms, laws, or conventions that are observed as informal or customary rather than codified in statutes or formal documents. It is common in legal, sociological, cultural discourse and in everyday speech to contrast formal, written rules with informal expectations.

In usage, niepisany conveys tacit knowledge or customary practice, rather than something established by written rules. Phrases such as niepisane prawo, niepisane zasady, and niepisana tradycja are widely used. The form niepisanym appears as the instrumental singular used when the associated masculine noun is in the instrumental case (for example in phrases like niepisanym prawem or niepisanym zwyczajem), while other gender and case forms exist for different nouns.

Etymology: it is built from the negation prefix nie- and pisany (written). The composite reflects the distinction between formal written rules and informal norms.

See also: unwritten law, unwritten rule, unwritten tradition.