Nietledenwaardige

Nietledenwaardige is a Dutch neologism used to describe something that is not worthy of admission as a member of a group, community, or category. The term is formed from niet (not), leden (members) and waard(e)ig (worthy). In practice it appears mainly in informal discourse and speculative writing, and can be written as nietledenwaardige or with a hyphen as niet-ledenwaardige. The construction fits the pattern of Dutch adjectives that evaluate eligibility for belonging.

The word is not part of standard dictionaries and has no fixed, official definition. It appears in discussions about inclusion, gatekeeping, and the criteria by which groups determine who may participate or belong. Because it is a value-laden judgment, its use invites debate about fairness, legitimacy, and the social or moral bases for membership.

In usage, nietledenwaardige can function as a normative descriptor referring to persons, practices, or criteria deemed unfit for membership. For example, it might be used in a critical argument that certain behaviors or requirements are so exclusionary that they render an individual or a category nietledenwaardig. Critics often employ the term to challenge rigid or discriminatory gatekeeping, urging more inclusive or transparent standards.

See also: inclusion, exclusion, gatekeeping, membership criteria, legitimacy. Since the term is informal and emerging, its exact scope and implications can vary with context and speaker.