Begrunnende

Begrunnende is a Norwegian term formed as the present participle of the verb begrunne, meaning to justify or to give grounds for. As an adjective, begrunnende describes something that provides justification or reasons, and as a noun it appears in compounds describing documents or statements that contain such justification. In practice, begrunnende material is commonly found in legal and administrative contexts, where a decision, ruling, or license is expected to be accompanied by a clear and thorough explanation of the grounds on which it rests. For example, a court judgment is typically required to be begrunnende, presenting the facts, applicable law, and the reasoning leading to the outcome. Similarly, an agency decision may be issued with a begrunnende notat or begrunnende del that lays out the justification for the decision.

The etymology traces to begrunne (to justify) from be- (a prefix) and grunn (ground, reason). Related terms include begrunnelse (the justification or grounds), begrunnet (justified, past participle), and motivering (reasoning). In usage, begrunnende appears primarily in formal writing and official communications, while everyday usage more often uses phrases like med begrunnelse or begrunnelsen to refer to the justification itself.

Variants and cognates exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish begrundende and Swedish begrundande, with similar meaning and usage. In translations into English, begrunnende is commonly rendered as reasoned, or with a justification, depending on the context.