Abweisung

Abweisung is a German noun meaning rejection, refusal, or dismissal. It denotes the act of withholding acceptance or approval, or the decision to deny a request, application, or claim. The term derives from the verb abweisen (to reject, to dismiss, to send away).

In legal and administrative contexts, Abweisung is used for formal decisions that deny a claim or request. For example, a court may issue an order of Abweisung of a lawsuit, meaning the lawsuit is dismissed. Similarly, administrative bodies may render an Abweisung of an application, such as a visa, asylum, or permit application, when the criteria are not met or the case lacks grounds.

In civil and public law, Abweisung is contrasted with Aufhebung (reversal) or Bewilligung (grant). It is often phrased as Die Klage wird abgewiesen or Der Antrag wird abgelehnt/abgewiesen. The term can also apply in more general settings, such as the rejection of a proposal, a request, or a bid by an organization or authority.

Nuances: Abweisung implies that a decision has the effect of dismissing a matter as unfounded or inadmissible, rather than merely refusing a substantive point. It is commonly used in formal documents, court rulings, and official communications.

Related terms: Ablehnung, Zurückweisung, Verweigerung. The choice among them depends on formality and context.

Etymology: from ab- (away) + weisen (to show, to indicate, to direct), originally meaning to send away or to reject.