Beschädigte

Beschädigte is a German term formed from the verb beschädigen (to damage). It can function as either an adjective meaning damaged or as a noun referring to people or things that have been damaged. In many contexts, especially reporting on accidents, disasters, or insurance claims, Beschädigte is used as a nominalized form of the participle.

As an adjective, it inflects with the noun it modifies: der beschädigte Gegenstand, die beschädigte Wand, die beschädigten Fahrzeuge. The form depends on gender, number, and case. As a noun, the term takes capitalized forms: der Beschädigte (masculine, singular), die Beschädigte (feminine, singular), die Beschädigten (plural). It refers to persons who have suffered damage; when used for objects, more common are forms like das Beschädigte or simply die beschädigten Dinge, depending on context.

Usage of Beschädigte appears most often in formal or institutional language, such as disaster reporting, emergency management, or insurance documentation. It conveys that damage has occurred and that the affected party is in some sense a recipient of subsequent assistance, assessment, or compensation. The noun form emphasizes affected individuals or groups, while the adjective describes the condition of a specific noun.

Related terms include Beschädigung (damage), beschädigen (to damage), and Schaden (loss or damage). The word should be used with appropriate sensitivity when referring to people, as it identifies those who have suffered harm in a given event.