påbudt

Påbudt is a Danish and Norwegian term used as an adjective to indicate that something is mandatory or required by law, regulation, or official instruction. It signals an obligation and is commonly found in legal texts, regulatory documents, and public signage. The word derives from påbud, meaning an order or directive, with the suffix -t forming an attributive or predicative adjective.

In usage, påbudt appears in phrases that specify required actions or conditions. Examples include Norwegian signage and regulations such as det er påbudt å bruke bilbelte (it is mandatory to wear a seat belt) and similar Danish constructions like det er påbudt at bruge sikkerhedssele. The term is typically paired with verbs or nouns that express the act to be performed or the condition to be met, and it is part of formal, official language.

Påbudt contrasts with forbudt, which means forbidden, indicating the absence of permission rather than the presence of an obligation. Related terms in the regulatory vocabulary include påbud (the directive or mandate itself) and, more broadly, language used to describe obligations, duties, or recommendations, such as anbefalet (recommended) in contexts where non-murther obligations apply.

See also: forbudt, påbud, regulatory language, legal terminology.