misslyckande

Misslyckande is a Swedish noun meaning failure, the state or act of not achieving a desired outcome. It can refer to a failed attempt, the collapse of a plan, or the malfunction of a system or process. The term is used across domains such as personal life, business, technology, and sport, and it often contrasts with success.

Etymology and forms: The word combines the prefix miss- (negation, “not”) with lyckande, derived from lyckas “to succeed.” The indefinite form is ett misslyckande; the plural is misslyckanden. The related adjective is misslyckad (failed), and the verb is misslyckas (to fail). The definite form is misslyckandet.

Nuance and usage: Misslyckande denotes a negative outcome and can range from minor mistakes to major defeats. In some contexts it is used neutrally or analytically, such as in risk assessments or project reviews, while in others it may carry stigma or social judgment. The term is also employed in discussions of learning from errors, resilience, and improvement, where failure is examined as part of a process rather than as an end in itself.

Synonyms and related terms: Fiasko (fiasco), motgång (setback), bakslag (setback), and missräkning (disappointment) are related but carry different nuances. Fiasko often implies a more dramatic or public failure, while misslyckande is a broader, neutral designation of not achieving the intended result.

In practice, misslyckande is used to categorize outcomes in engineering, project management, research, and everyday life, emphasizing the distinction between attempted goals and achieved results.