Besserung

Besserung is a German noun meaning improvement, amelioration, or recovery. It can refer to the improvement of a person’s health, a situation, or a condition, and it is used in medical, legal, and general contexts. The most common idiom is Gute Besserung, a standard wish for a speedy recovery after illness or injury. In daily language, one may speak of die Besserung der Lage (the improvement of the situation) or die Besserung der Symptome (the improvement of symptoms).

Etymology and form: Besserung is formed from the adjective besser (the comparative of gut, “good”) with the noun-deriving suffix -ung, creating an abstract noun. The term is attested in Middle High German as besserunge and has cognates in other Germanic languages. It often conveys a sense of progress toward a better state.

Usage and context: In medical discourse, Besserung denotes a positive change in a patient’s condition. In everyday speech, it functions as a general term for improvement, frequently paired with phrases about health or circumstances. In historical or legal contexts, the word has appeared in reference to reform or rehabilitation, such as the concept of a Besserungsanstalt, a reform school or reformatory for offenders; this usage is largely historical and specific to earlier periods.

See also: Verbesserung, Heilung, Genesung, Gute Besserung, Besserungsanstalt.