vastuutetut

Vastuutetut is a Finnish term used in formal contexts to refer to persons or organisations that have been assigned liability or responsibility. The word is formed from vastuu (responsibility, liability) and the past participle suffix -tetut, yielding “those who have been made responsible” or “the liable parties.” It is chiefly found in legal, regulatory, or governance-related language and is not a standard fixed category in most statutes.

Etymology and nuance: The -tetut form expresses a passive action, indicating a status where liability has been imposed on specific parties. The term emphasizes the imposition of responsibility rather than a general characteristic, and it is distinct from vastuullinen (responsible) or vastuullisuus (responsibility as a quality). In many contexts, more common phrases such as vastuu or vastuullinen are used, but vastuutetut can appear when a document seeks to specify who bears liability.

Usage: In practice, vastuutetut may describe parties in contracts, regulatory regimes, or risk assessments who are obligated to fulfill certain duties or bear costs. Example sentences include: “Sopimuksen mukaan vastuutetut osapuolet vastaavat veloista,” and “Vastuutetut tahot voivat olla vastuussa vahingonkorvauksista.” The term tends to appear in formal documents; everyday language often relies on more general terms.

See also: vastuu; vastuullinen; vastuukysymys; oikeudellinen vastuu.