Deckung

Deckung is a German noun derived from the verb decken, meaning to cover or to satisfy. In general use, it denotes the act of covering or protecting something, as well as the thing that provides cover, including physical coverings (a lid or canopy) and more abstract forms of protection or provision.

In insurance, Deckung refers to the scope or extent of protection provided by a policy. A contract offers Deckung against defined risks, and the term is used together with related concepts such as Deckungsumfang (scope of coverage), Deckungssumme (sum insured), and Deckungslücke (coverage gap). The particular cover depends on the policy type, for example Haftpflichtdeckungen (liability coverage) or Vollkaskodeckung (comprehensive coverage) for vehicles.

In safety and military contexts, Deckung means protection from danger or concealment from enemy fire. Phrases like in Deckung gehen (to take cover) and Deckung suchen (to seek cover) describe actions to shield oneself. The concept also appears in civilian risk mitigation, where physical or organizational measures provide Deckung against hazards.

In finance and accounting, Deckung describes the provision of resources to meet obligations. Costs may be deckt or decken (to cover) by revenues or reserves. Common terms include Kosten decken and Verbindlichkeiten decken, as well as Deckungsgrad, which denotes the degree to which assets and reserves cover liabilities or planned expenditures.

Overall, Deckung is a versatile term whose precise meaning depends on context, ranging from physical protection to financial or contractual coverage.