vesentlig

Vesentlig is a Norwegian adjective meaning essential, substantial, or significant. It is used to indicate that something has considerable importance or impact and is not merely peripheral.

In everyday and formal Norwegian it appears in phrases such as vesentlige detaljer (essential details) and vesentlig betydning (substantial significance). It is common in professional domains, including law, economics, journalism, and policy analysis. In legal language, vesentlig can appear in compound terms like vesentlig mislighold (material breach), where it roughly corresponds to the English "material" or "substantial" rather than "major" or "critical."

Relation to other terms: synonyms include viktig, betydningsfull, avgjørende, sentral. The nuance: vesentlig emphasizes necessity or fundamental relevance rather than mere interest. It is often used when describing factors that influence outcomes or decisions. Antonyms include uviktig or mindre vesentlig for "not essential."

Etymology: The word is of Norwegian origin and is cognate with the Danish vesentlig; its precise etymology traces back to older Germanic roots but is not widely detailed in standard references. Vesentlig is commonly found in formal, administrative, and academic contexts, where precision about importance and impact matters.