Anfällig

Anfällig is a German adjective meaning susceptible, prone, or vulnerable to something. It describes a person, object, or system that is more easily affected by a particular influence, risk, or condition than is typical. The term is often used with the preposition für, as in anfällig für Krankheiten or anfällig für Fehler, to indicate the specific vulnerability. In medical contexts it refers to individuals who are more likely to contract illnesses or experience complications; in technical or organizational contexts it describes systems that are prone to failures or disturbances.

Etymology and usage notes: The form derives from the adjective fähig with the prefix an-, yielding anfällig, literally “able to be affected.” The noun form is Anfälligkeit, meaning susceptibility or vulnerability.

Usage patterns and collocations: anfällig is used predicatively or attributively, for example Der Patient ist anfällig für Infektionen or eine anfällige Struktur. It is similar in some senses to empfindlich, but anfällig emphasizes vulnerability to external factors rather than general sensitivity. Common collocations include anfällig für Krankheiten, anfällig für Fehler, or anfällig für Ausfälle in technischen Systemen. In everyday language it can carry a negative connotation about robustness or resilience.

Anfälligkeit as a noun denotes susceptibility or vulnerability and is used across medical, technical, and risk-assessment contexts. The term remains neutral in tone, though its use often signals a need to mitigate risk or strengthen robustness in the affected domain.