Skadelidelig

Skadelidelig is a Norwegian adjective used mainly in professional registers such as law, risk assessment, and policy analysis. The term describes something that is susceptible to damage or harm, i.e., capable of being harmed or incurring damage. In some contexts it can also relate to liability for damage, when discussing who bears responsibility for harm in civil law. The exact sense depends on context; in everyday Norwegian the term is uncommon, and alternatives such as sårbar, utsatt for skade, or skadelig are more frequent.

Etymology and form: The word is built from skade (damage) and the suffix -lidelig (capable of, liable to), which is common in Norwegian adjectives. It shares cognates with Danish and Swedish forms. The form skadelidelig is primarily used in Bokmål; in Nynorsk the corresponding term is less standardized or may be expressed with other phrasing.

Usage and nuance: Skadelidelig tends to emphasize vulnerability to damage rather than the existence of damage itself. It can describe materials, systems, or entities that are more likely to suffer harm under certain conditions (for example moisture, corrosion, or mechanical stress). In a legal text, it may appear when discussing who is liable for damages or when describing the potential for harm to a party or property.

Related terms: skadelig meaning harmful; skadelidte or skadelidende meaning the injured party; sårbar meaning vulnerable; liability terms such as ansvar or erstatning as appropriate in civil code.