Referatet

Referatet is a noun used in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish to denote a concise account of a larger work or an event. Depending on context, it can refer to a summary of a text or to the minutes of a meeting.

In academic settings, a referat is an objective synopsis of a source such as a book, article, or lecture. It summarizes the main arguments, structure, and conclusions, and may note key methods or data. The purpose is to convey the essential content without personal interpretation. A referat is often accompanied by bibliographic information and a citation of the original source.

In organizational or journalistic contexts, referat refers to the written record of what happened at a meeting or event. It lists participants, decisions, and follow-up actions. Such referater are usually prepared by a secretary or note-taker and circulated to stakeholders.

Translations into English depend on the context: "summary" for a textual referat and "minutes" for a meeting referat. The term is common across Scandinavian languages and is used in educational, administrative, and professional settings to describe concise reporting of content or events.