funksjonell

Funksjonell is a Norwegian adjective meaning functional, serving a purpose, or designed to be usable and effective. It describes objects, systems, or actions that fulfil their intended function rather than being decorative. The word derives from funksjon (function), from Latin functio, and has cognates in Danish funktionel and Swedish funktionell.

In common usage, funksjonell describes practical usability and efficiency. It appears across contexts including technology, design, architecture, and everyday life. Phrases such as funksjonell løsning (functional solution) or funksjonell design signal that form is driven by usefulness. In medicine or biology, it can describe organs or processes that operate correctly, while in software and systems engineering it is contrasted with nonfunctional requirements emphasizing performance, reliability, or security.

Historically, funksjonalismen (functionalism) denotes a movement in architecture and design in the early to mid-20th century that argued that form should follow function. It influenced modernist buildings and consumer products and is associated with the principle of simplicity and utilitarian aesthetics.

Cognate terms exist in neighboring languages, such as Danish funktionel and Swedish funktionell, which share the same core meaning. In Norwegian, funksjonell remains a common, neutral descriptor used in both professional and everyday language to express practicality and usability.