Feilaktige

Feilaktige is the plural attributive form of the Norwegian adjective feilaktig, meaning faulty, erroneous, or incorrect. It is used before plural nouns to describe things that are not correct or reliable, such as statements, calculations, or conclusions. For example, feilaktige påstander means faulty statements, and feilaktige beregninger means faulty calculations.

Origin and form: The term combines the noun feil, meaning fault, with the adjectival suffix -aktig, which denotes likeness or characteristic. The overall sense is “fault-like” or “defective,” and feilaktige is the appropriate form for modifying plural nouns in Norwegian.

Usage notes: Feilaktige is common in formal writing, technical reports, journalism, and academic contexts where precise description is needed. It is contrasted with synonyms such as riktig, korrekt (both meaning correct) and gyldig (valid) depending on nuance. While feilaktige describes errors or defects, it can also refer to misleading or deceptive aspects in some contexts.

Related terms: The related noun feilaktighet denotes the quality or state of being faulty or erroneous. The base word feil means fault, error, or mistake. The opposing adjective is feilrig or korrekt/riktig, depending on regional usage and context.

Cross-linguistic note: Norwegian feilaktig has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as felaktig in Swedish and fejlagtig in Danish, with similar meanings relating to incorrectness or defectiveness, though exact forms and usage can differ by language.