samhällsmässiga

Samhällsmässig is a Swedish adjective that describes something relating to society, public life, or the broader public realm. The form samhällsmässiga is used when the noun it modifies is plural or when describing multiple societal aspects. The term is common in academic, policy, and media contexts to categorize issues, processes, or conditions that affect the public at large rather than individuals alone.

Etymology and sense: the word combines samhälle (society) with the suffix -mässig, which forms adjectives indicating the nature or character of something. As a result, samhällsmässig conveys a broad, structural orientation toward social life, institutions, norms, or public policy, rather than a strictly personal or economic dimension.

Usage and examples: typical collocations include samhällsmässiga konsekvenser (societal consequences), samhällsmässiga frågor (societal issues), samhällsmässiga strukturer (societal structures), and samhällsmässiga åtgärder (policy measures with broad public impact). The term is useful for signaling that a topic concerns the functioning of society as a whole, including welfare systems, education, labor markets, democracy, and cultural norms.

Relation to other terms: samhällsmässig is broader than strictly economic or individual-focused descriptors and is often used in discussions about public policy, institutions, and social change. In English, it is commonly rendered as "societal" or "public," rather than "socioeconomic," which corresponds to another Swedish term (socioekonomisk). Care is advised when translating, as nuance depends on context.