grundlaget

Grundlaget is the definite form of grunnlag, a noun used in Danish and Norwegian to mean the basis, foundation, or groundwork of something. It designates the underlying set of conditions, data, principles, or arguments on which a claim, plan, system, or evaluation rests. The term appears across fields such as policy, law, project planning, philosophy, and science to indicate what must be true or accepted for the rest to follow.

Etymology and usage vary slightly by language. The word derives from Proto-Nordic roots meaning foundation or ground, with lag conveying a sense of formation or structure. In Danish and Norwegian the common sense is “the basis” or “the foundation.” In Swedish, a closely related concept is grundlag (the constitution), with its definite form grundlagen; thus grundlaget is not standard Swedish usage in most contexts, though readers may encounter it in bilingual or mixed-language texts.

Examples illustrate its use: Danish, “Dette er grundlaget for vores beslutning” (This is the basis for our decision). Norwegian, “Grunnlaget for analysen er dataene” (The basis for the analysis is the data). In legal or political discourse, grundlaget may refer to fundamental premises, adopted principles, or the data and arguments underpinning a policy or agreement.

See also terms for related concepts such as fundament, basis, and grunnlagets derivatives in different Scandinavian languages. The concept of grundlaget emphasizes the foundational elements required to understand, justify, or implement subsequent steps.