forholdsmessige

Forholdsmessig is a Norwegian adjective used to describe something that is appropriate or proportionate to a given aim, context, or relation. When describing multiple nouns or feminine forms, the inflected form "forholdsmessige" is used, as in "forholdsmessige hensyn" or "tiltakene må være forholdsmessige."

Etymology and usage: The term combines the word "forhold" (relation, condition, or circumstance) with the suffix "-smessig," meaning having the quality of. The concept is closely aligned with the English word proportionate or proportional, and it is widely used in governance, ethics, and law to assess fit between means and goals.

In practice, "forholdsmessig" refers to measures, restrictions, or judgments that are commensurate with the objective and necessary to achieve it. For example, "Tiltakene må være forholdsmessige i forhold til trusselen" highlights that actions should match the level of risk. In human rights and public administration, the term often appears in discussions of the proportionality principle, which requires that limitations on rights be appropriate, necessary, and proportionate to legitimate aims.

Nuances: While akin to terms like "rimelig" (reasonable) or "passende" (appropriate), "forholdsmessig" emphasizes a comparative assessment of effect relative to the goal or risk, rather than a purely subjective sense of fairness. It is frequently used to avoid overreach and ensure balance between competing interests.