todisteellinen

Todisteellinen is a Finnish adjective meaning evidentiary or evidential: describing something that is based on, or supported by, evidence. It is used to characterize statements, arguments, findings, or materials that rest on verifiable proof or data rather than conjecture. In legal contexts it often relates to evidence presented in a case, while in science or journalism it can describe claims or results that are backed by documented information.

The word is formed from todiste, meaning evidence, with the suffix -ellinen, which indicates a characteristic or relation. Related forms include todisteellinen (adjective), todisteellisesti (adverb), and the noun todiste or todistusaineisto (evidence or evidential material). Common collocations include todistettava näyttö or todellinen todiste (genuine evidence), todisteellinen peruste (evidentiary basis), and todistusaineisto (evidence materials).

Usage and nuance: todisteellinen conveys that there is evidence supporting a claim, but it does not by itself guarantee truth or correctness; it notes the evidentiary status within a context. It contrasts with terms describing lack of evidence (todisteeton) or with more speculative, unsubstantiated claims (väitteellinen).

English equivalents include evidentiary or evidential, depending on context. Todisteellinen is used across law, science, journalism, and formal argumentation to signal that conclusions are anchored in observable, verifiable evidence.