selvittäv

Selvittäv is a Finnish adjective derived from the verb selvittää, which means to investigate, to clarify, or to determine. The word is used to describe actions, processes, or documents that are intended to bring clarity or to uncover facts. In modern Finnish it is commonly found in contexts such as investigative journalism, legal documentation, scientific research, and police reports. For example, a “selvittävä raportti” is a report that is meant to provide a thorough explanation or to resolve an unanswered question.

The term can be applied to both human and mechanical processes. In engineering, a “selvittävä testaus” refers to a testing procedure that identifies the root cause of a malfunction. In personal contexts, someone might describe a conversation as “selvittävä” if it effectively addresses misunderstandings between parties. The adjective is also used metaphorically to characterize people who tend to ask penetrating questions and to dig deeply into issues, often in academic or journalistic environments.

In usage, selvittäv is typically paired with nouns that stand to be clarified, and it is sometimes modified by adverbs such as “täydellisesti selvittäv” (completely clarifying). The word is considered gender neutral and can be applied to any subject or object discussing the act of becoming clear. The term is officially recognized in standard Finnish dictionaries, where it is defined simply as "that serves to clarify or investigate."