utlåst

Utlåst is a Scandinavian term used in Swedish and Norwegian to describe something that has been locked out or made inaccessible. It is the past participle form of the verb utlåsa (Swedish) or utlåse (Norwegian), indicating a state of exclusion from access rather than a request or action of lending. The term is distinct from related but different words such as utlånat or utlånade, which describe something that has been lent out.

Etymology and usage are centered on the prefix ut- meaning outward or away, combined with låst, the past participle of låsa (to lock). As such, utlåst literally conveys being locked out. In Swedish, the more common past participle for “to lend out” is utlånat, so uttlåt is not used for lending in standard practice. In Norwegian, the expression utlåse more often refers to locking out in access-control contexts, while lending is described with other forms.

Common contexts for utlåst include digital access control and physical security. For example, a user account may be utlåst after repeated failed login attempts, restricting entry to the system. A door or access point might be utlåst during maintenance or security incidents. In administrative language, statuses such as utlåst can indicate a temporary or conditional restriction rather than a permanent state.

Regional note: while utlåst is widely understood in Swedish and Norwegian to signify a lockout or access restriction, pronunciation, usage, and preferred synonyms can vary by country and dialect. In contexts involving lending items, different terms (such as utlånat) are used to denote items that have been loaned out.

See also: utlåna, utlåning, låst, låse.