virkning

Virkning is a noun used in Norwegian (and Danish) to denote effect, impact, or consequence. It can refer to the practical outcome of an action, policy, event, or condition, as well as to the legal or formal force of a rule, decree, or agreement. The term is common in everyday language as well as in formal and administrative contexts.

In legal and administrative usage, virkning describes the operative power of norms and decisions. A law, regulation, or contract has virkning from a specified date or under certain conditions, and it may also describe the binding force or legal consequences that follow from an act. Phrases such as “ha virkning fra” (takes effect from) and “virkningen av avtalen” (the effect of the agreement) are typical in official texts and discussions.

Virkning can also refer to broader influence or outcomes beyond strict legality, including societal, economic, or environmental effects produced by policies, measures, or events. It is often contrasted with synonyms like effekt, which is sometimes used for more immediate or measurable results, whereas virkning emphasizes overall influence or long-term consequences. In specialized fields, the term can be paired with qualifiers such as juridisk virkning (legal effect) or praktisk virkning (practical impact).

See also: effekt, virkningsgrad, rettsvirkning.