sökande

Sökande is a Swedish noun derived from the verb söka, meaning to search or to apply. In contemporary usage, sökande designates a person who submits an application for something, such as a job, a grant, housing, a study place, or welfare benefits. The term is neutral and widely used in both informal and official contexts.

In employment and education, the phrase den sökande refers to the applicant for a position or admission. In housing and social programs, sökande identifies individuals who have applied for a place or benefit. In administrative processes, the distinction between the sökande and the decision maker is common, with decisions often described as made for or about the sökande.

Etymology and grammar: sökande is formed with the -ande suffix from the verb söka, and functions as a noun describing a person performing the action of seeking or applying. Singular indefinite: en sökande; definite: den sökande. Plural indefinite: flera sökande; definite plural: de sökande. In some official texts, ansökande is a near synonym, though the nuances may vary by context.

See also: ansökan, ansökande, bostadskö.