motståndskraftig

Motståndskraftig is a Swedish adjective meaning capable of withstanding stress, adversity, or disturbance. It is used to describe persons, systems, or materials that maintain function under pressure or recover quickly from disruption. In everyday language it is often paired with contexts such as weather, disease, and social stress, where resilience or robustness is a key quality.

Etymology and related forms: the word is formed from motstånd, meaning resistance, and kraftig, meaning powerful or strong. The noun form motståndskraft denotes resilience or resistance capacity, while motståndskraftig describes the attribute itself. Related terms include resiliens (resilience) and hållbarhet (sustainability or durability), which are used in slightly different contexts but share the core idea of robustness.

Domains of use: in psychology and social sciences, motståndskraftig describes individuals or communities that adapt to adversity, recover from trauma, and maintain well-being. In ecology and environmental planning, it refers to ecosystems or infrastructures that absorb shocks and continue to function, such as motståndskraftiga byggnader or motståndskraftiga nätverk. In engineering and materials science, it characterizes substances that resist damage, wear, or corrosion, or that recover shape after deformation. The term is also used in policy and economics to describe systems and institutions capable of withstanding crises.

In summary, motståndskraftig captures the general idea of robustness and adaptability across disciplines, emphasizing the ability to endure, adapt, and recover from diverse challenges.