sprawomerycznie

Sprawomerycznie is a neologism used in Polish political and legal discourse to describe an approach to evaluating matters based on their substantive merits rather than on procedural, partisan, or formal considerations. The term blends sprawa (matter, case) with merycznie (merit-based, substantive), producing an adverb that roughly means “on the merits” in reference to a case or policy.

Usage and meaning: Sprawomerycznie characterizes decisions, debates, or proposals that prioritize evidence, policy consequences, and legal substantive aspects. Phrases such as “rozpatrywać sprawę sprawomerycznie” or “podejście sprawomeryczne do reformy” are used to signal a focus on merit rather than form. In public discourse, advocates present it as a way to resist symbolic politics or procedural delays, while critics warn that the term can be vague or used rhetorically without clear standards for what constitutes merit in a given context.

Context and reception: Sprawomerycznie is part of a broader trend in Polish to form adverbs that describe evaluative approaches (for example merytorycznie, rzeczowo). It appears mainly in media coverage, think-tank analyses, and academic discussions about governance and law. Because it is relatively new, there is no universally accepted definition, and its precise meaning often depends on context and the speaker.

See also: merytoryczny; merit; procedural justice; adverb formation in Polish.