ráðstafaðar

ráðstafaðar is the plural form of the Icelandic adjective ráðstafaður, which literally means “office‑holder” or “appointed”. In Icelandic usage the term typically refers to individuals who have been formally selected or confirmed for a specific official role or position within a governmental, judicial, or administrative institution. The appointment process is usually carried out by the relevant authority— for example, the Alþingi may appoint members to committees or ministries, while a local municipal council may designate advisors or bureaucrats to particular responsibilities.

The word is also applied in a broader sense to describe assets or responsibilities that have been allocated or assigned to a person or collective entity, such as “regulated responsibilities” or “authorized duties.” In legal texts, “ráðstafaðar” can describe obligations that have become enforceable through a formal act of appointment or declaration, making the holder accountable for compliance.

In everyday Icelandic discourse the term is common in bureaucratic contexts; it distinguishes between general employees and those whose status derives from a formal appointment. The associated noun, ráðstaf, is used to denote offices, seats, or places of authority. The adjective derives from the verb ráðstafa, meaning to appoint or to place in office. The feminine forms are ráðstafaða (singular) and ráðstafaðar (plural).