urimelige

Urimelige is a Norwegian adjective meaning unreasonable or not justifiable. It is used to describe actions, demands, prices, arguments, or beliefs that are regarded as excessive or lacking justification given the circumstances. The form urimelige is the plural attributive ending used before plural nouns, as in urimelige krav (unreasonable demands) or urimelige priser (unreasonably high prices). The corresponding noun form is urimelighet, which denotes unreasonableness or irrationality.

Origin and usage: Urimelige is derived from rimelig, meaning reasonable, with the prefix ur- that commonly conveys negation or intensification in Norwegian. The term appears across registers, from everyday conversation to journalism and legal or political discourse. It typically implies a judgment that a claim, expectation, or obligation is disproportionate, unfounded, or unfair given the context.

Examples: Statements such as "Det var urimelige krav å stille" (Those were unreasonable demands) or "Prisen er urimelig høy" (The price is unreasonably high) illustrate common collocations. In legal or advisory texts, urimelighet is used to discuss the concept of unreasonableness in assessments or obligations.

Related terms: Rimelig (reasonable) serves as the direct opposite, while fornuftig (sensible) and reasonable standards are used in contrast. Urimelighet as a noun form is often employed when discussing the broader idea of unreasonableness in assessments, policies, or rhetoric.