samfélagsins

Samfélagsins is the genitive form of the Icelandic noun samfélagið, meaning "the society." It appears in phrases that refer to society as a whole or to its aspects, such as vandamál samfélagsins (the society’s problems), framtíð samfélagsins (the future of the society) and þróun samfélagsins (the development of the society).

In sociology, political discourse, and public policy, samfélagið denotes the organized social life of a group, including institutions such as family, education, economy, government, and culture, as well as the norms, values, and practices that regulate interaction. The genitive form samfélagsins is used when attributing or discussing elements belonging to or affecting the society, for example vandamál samfélagsins or tryggð samfélagsins (the society’s stability).

Usage of the term often frames issues as collective concerns rather than individual ones. Discussions may address social inequality, access to education and healthcare, social welfare, safety, and cohesion. The concept encompasses both formal institutions and informal networks that shape how people live together and how collective decisions are made.

Linguistically, samfélagsins is the genitive singular of the definite noun samfélagið, formed from samf- þellagið with the possessive/genitive ending -ins. It is commonly found in Icelandic media, academic writing, and policy discussions when referring to the society in a possessive or apportioning sense.

See also: samfélagið.

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