teoreetisesti

Teoreetisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning “in theory” or “theoretically.” It is used to indicate that a statement holds under idealized assumptions or within a theoretical framework, rather than in real-world practice. It is formed from the adjective teoreettinen (theoretical) plus the adverbial suffix -isesti, and its root derives from teoria (theory), ultimately from Greek theoria.

In usage, teoreetisesti introduces propositions that depend on simplified models, absent practical constraints, or hypothetical conditions. It is frequently used in science, philosophy, economics, and policy discussions to acknowledge limitations or to distinguish theoretical possibility from practical feasibility. It often appears with predicates like olla, mahdollinen, pätevä, or soveltua (e.g., teoreettisesti mahdollista, teoreettisesti pätevä).

Examples:

- Teoreettisesti ratkaisu on yksinkertainen, käytännössä se on paljon monimutkaisempi. (Theoretically the solution is simple, in practice it is much more complex.)

- Teoreettisesti voidaan osoittaa, että tulos on oikea. (Theoretically one can show that the result is correct.)

Related terms include teoreettinen (theoretical), teoreettisuus (theoretical nature), and teoria (theory).