höfnun

Höfnun is a noun in Icelandic that denotes the act of refusing or rejecting something. It is used to describe a decision to deny a request, reject an offer, or dismiss a claim. In both everyday language and formal contexts, including administrative and legal settings, höfnun refers to the outcome of a decision or the act of saying no.

Origin and related terms: Höfnun is derived from the Icelandic verb höfna, meaning to refuse or spurn. A related noun with a similar sense is neitun, but höfnun carries a nuance of a deliberate refusal. The verb forms höfna and neita are closely related and used depending on nuance and grammatical context.

Usage and examples: Höfnun appears in official notices, applications, and negotiations, for example in phrases such as höfnun umsóknar (rejection of an application) or höfnun tilboðs (rejection of an offer). In practice, it can be used in formal writing and conversation to describe the act or outcome of turning something down; notices often accompany höfnun with reasons or information about appeal options, when relevant.