útilokað

Útilokað is an Icelandic adjective used to describe something that cannot be ruled out as a possibility. In practical terms, it signifies that a given explanation, hypothesis, or factor cannot be dismissed as irrelevant or impossible based on available information. The term is common in formal writing, such as scientific reports, policy discussions, and investigative journalism, but it also appears in everyday speech.

The word is formed from the verb tiloka, meaning to exclude or rule out, with the prefix ú-, which adds a sense of impossibility or inescapability. As an adjective, útilokað typically modifies a noun or appears in constructions such as “Það er útilokað” (It is impossible to rule out). The usage emphasizes uncertainty about ruling out a possibility rather than presenting it as a confirmed fact.

In practice, útilokað is used when authors want to acknowledge that a certain factor or explanation cannot be dismissed with the information available. It can convey caution or the need for further investigation. For example, a study might state that “ögur eru útilokaðar,” meaning certain influences cannot be excluded based on current data, or a report may note that “þessi kenning er útilokað” pending additional evidence.

Compared with more definitive terms, útilokað signals provisional or incomplete certainty. It is a standard part of Icelandic analytical prose and can appear in both scientific discourse and public discussion to mark the boundary between plausible and proven explanations.