meningsløst

Meningsløst is a Norwegian adjective meaning meaningless or pointless. It describes statements, actions, or phenomena that lack significance, value, or coherence. The term can carry a strong evaluative tone, signaling that something is not merely incorrect or incorrect but devoid of sense or purpose. In use, it often appears in journalism, criticism, and philosophical discussions to express that an activity, proposal, or argument fails to meet a reasonable standard of relevance or worth.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed from mening meaning meaning or sense, combined with the suffix -løst, indicating absence. The standard form is meningsløst in Bokmål and Nynorsk, and the base form without the neuter inflection appears as meningsløs in other contexts. The noun form related to the concept is usually cited as meningsløshet or meningsløsehet, referring to meaninglessness or a lack of sense.

Usage notes: Meningsløst is commonly used for concrete critiques (et meningsløst forslag, et meningsløst spørsmål) as well as for broader observations about culture, politics, or daily life. While it often conveys a negative judgment, it may be employed in a framing sense to prompt reevaluation or philosophical reflection on the purpose and value of a given act or idea.

See also: mening (meaning, sense), meningsløshet (meaninglessness), nihilism, existentialism.

In summary, meningsløst functions as a versatile descriptor for lacking meaning, purpose, or value, applicable across informal speech and formal discourse in Norwegian.