Abhilfe

Abhilfe is a German noun meaning remedy, relief, or solution that removes a problem. The term is built from ab- "away" and Hilfe "help," signaling the act of rendering a problem moot by providing assistance.

In everyday language, Abhilfe describes any action that cures a deficiency or fixes a fault: "eine Abhilfe schaffen" means to create a remedy or solution to a problem.

In legal contexts, Abhilfe denotes the remedy or relief provided by law to address a wrongful act, an administrative shortcoming, or a failure to meet standards. It can take the form of a court order, a regulatory directive, or a required remedial measure. The concept is used in statutes, court decisions, and administrative proceedings to name the relief sought or granted. For example, a decision may grant Abhilfe against unlawful practices or compel a public body to rectify a service failure.

In administrative and public-law settings, Abhilfe often concerns ensuring the proper functioning of procedures, compliance with regulations, or remedying procedural or factual defects that affect rights or legitimate expectations.

Common related phrases include "Abhilfe schaffen" (to provide relief) and "Abhilfemaßnahmen" (remedial measures). The term does not prescribe a specific remedy; the concrete relief depends on the governing law and the particular circumstances.