utdøende

Utdøende is a Norwegian adjective meaning "dying out" or "on the verge of extinction." It is used to describe things that are gradually disappearing and may disappear if trends continue. The term is common in ecology, conservation, linguistics, and cultural studies, and can apply to biological species, populations, ecosystems, as well as languages, crafts, and traditions.

In biology and ecology, utdøende characterizes populations whose numbers are declining, genetic diversity is shrinking, or whose geographic range is contracting to the point where extinction is plausible. It is not a formal technical status on its own; official risk categories such as those used by the IUCN (for example critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable) describe levels of extinction risk, while utdøende serves as a general description in everyday language and policy discussions.

A related term is extinct; in Norwegian contexts, specialists distinguish utdøende (dying out) from the state of being extinct (no living individuals remain). Utdøende therefore marks a situation in which extinction is possible but not yet realized, and it often carries an implicit call for conservation action or revitalization efforts, including habitat protection, restoration, or language revitalization programs.

Etymology traces the word to ut- meaning "out" and døende from dø, meaning "dying." Its usage stresses the process of decline rather than the final absence. See also endangered species and endangered languages as related concepts.

Note: There are regional differences in how strongly the term is used; some authorities prefer more precise formal statuses, while utdøende remains common in media and public discourse.