hindret

Hindret is a term used in Swedish and Norwegian to denote an obstacle or impediment that blocks progress or action. It can describe both physical obstructions and figurative barriers, such as regulatory hurdles, administrative delays, or engineering challenges. The word can function as a noun in the definite form and as the past participle of the verb hindra, meaning prevented or hindered, used in passive constructions such as "fremdriften ble hindret" (progress was hindered) or "planerna hindrades" (the plans were hindered).

Etymology: Hindret derives from the verb hindra, which in turn comes from Old Norse hindra and Proto-Germanic *hindrą, related to the concept of obstruction or hindrance.

Usage notes: In contemporary Swedish and Norwegian, hindret as a noun commonly describes something that blocks or slows an effort. The term is neutral and widely used in official language, journalism, and technical writing. In everyday speech, synonyms such as hinder, hinderlighet, or barrier may be used depending on the language and context.

See also: hindrance, obstacle, barrier, impediment.