nimikkeistö

Nimikkeistö is a Finnish term referring to a systematic list of names, terms, or designations used within a particular field to identify items, roles, or concepts in a consistent way. The word combines nimike (designation, label) with the suffix -istö, which denotes a collection or system.

Nimikkeistös are employed across many sectors to facilitate clear communication, ordering, and data handling. In military and defense contexts, a nimikkeistö can be the official nomenclature for equipment, weapons, and supplies, typically accompanied by codes. In public administration, nimikkeistö may describe occupational classifications or catalogues of services. In commerce and industry, it appears as product or service nomenclature and coding systems, supporting procurement, inventory, and reporting. In research and statistics, nimikkeistöt help classify subjects or items to ensure comparability.

Some nimikkeistöt are designed to align with international standards through mappings to global coding systems, while others are national or sector-specific. The Finnish term koodisto is closely related, referring to code systems and ontologies used for data exchange, and is often used in conjunction with or as an aspect of a nimikkeistö.

Etymology-wise, nimike means designation or label, and the -istö suffix signals a collective or systematic set. While the precise meaning can vary by field, nimikkeistö generally denotes an organized catalog of terms and corresponding identifiers used to enable consistent reference and data management.

See also: nomenclature, terminology, koodisto, luokitus, ISCO, NACE, CPV.