vejledende

Vejledende is a Danish adjective meaning guiding, advisory, or indicative. It describes something intended to provide guidance, benchmarks, or examples rather than something mandatory or legally binding. The word derives from the verb vejlede, which means to guide or instruct.

In everyday language and in commerce, vejledende is commonly used to label non-binding values or recommendations. Common phrases include vejledende udsalgspris (guidance or suggested retail price) and vejledende pris (guidance price). Such terms signal to consumers or businesses what is typical or expected, while the final price or decision may still be determined independently by sellers, buyers, or authorities.

In administrative, regulatory, or professional contexts, vejledende can describe criteria, guidelines, or standards used to steer decisions or assessments without imposing a fixed rule. For example, vejledende kriterier or vejledende retningslinjer may guide evaluations, inspections, or planning processes. The neutrality of vejledende emphasizes guidance rather than obligation, though it can influence outcomes in practice.

Distinctions from related terms are important. Vejledende differs from binding or legally required terms (for example, fastsat or krav) in that it is intended to inform and steer rather than compel. It can be complemented by specific, binding requirements in a given context.

Etymologically, vejledende is formed from vejlede ("to guide") + -ende, the present participle, signaling a state or quality of providing guidance. Cognates appear in other Scandinavian languages, such as Norwegian veiledende and Swedish vägledande, sharing the same core meaning.