podpisanje

Podpisanie is the noun form used in several Slavic languages to denote the act of signing a document or the resulting signature itself. It is most commonly encountered in legal, administrative, and bureaucratic contexts, where a podpisanie of a contract, deed, or formal agreement is required to confer validity. The term also applies to electronic signing processes, where a digital podpisanie may replace a traditional ink signature when the law permits electronic records.

The word originates from the base noun podpis (meaning “signature” in Russian, Ukrainian, and related languages) combined with the verbal nominal suffix –anie, which turns verbs into nouns that designate the action of performing that verb. In Russian, the verb подписать („to sign“) yields the noun подписание, while in Ukrainian the form is підписання. Polish uses podpisanie with a similar meaning, and Czech speakers use podpis (signature) while the act can be described as podpisání. The English equivalent of the noun is “signature” when referring to the written symbol, or “signing” when focusing on the activity.

In practice, a podpisanie may be witnessed by a notary, lawyer, or a trusted third party, and official records often require a separate citation of the signature’s authenticity. The term is distinguished from podpis, which refers to the signature itself rather than the act. In modern electronic contexts, a digital podpisanie is created via cryptographic methods that provide legal assurance of integrity and non‑repudiation, and many jurisdictions have adopted legislation recognizing digital podpisanie on par with traditional ink signatures.

Related terms include the Slavic verbs подписать, підписати, podpisatʼ, and the noun підпис, podpis, which together encompass the whole spectrum that ranges from writing a signature to executing a legal act of signing.