Exakte

Exakte is a German adjective meaning precise or exact. It is used to describe things that are free from approximation, such as measurements, data, statements, or calculations. In technical, scientific, and formal writing, exakte indicates a high standard of accuracy and adherence to defined values or methods.

Declension and usage: Exakte declines like a standard weak-ending adjective after definite articles. For example: die exakte Lösung (the exact solution), das exakte Ergebnis (the exact result). In the plural with a definite article you commonly see die exakten Lösungen. With no definite article or in plural contexts, the form can vary, as with other adjectives, but exakte remains common in many technical phrases such as exakte Messungen or exakte Daten.

Etymology: The German word derives from the Latin exactus, passing into German through older European languages such as French. The base form exak t is used in everyday language as well as in specialized discourse, with exakte serving as the feminine singular and neuter singular form after a determiner.

Nuance and related terms: Exakte often conveys a sense of mathematical or objectively verifiable precision, sometimes implying adherence to a standard or specification. It is related to, but more formal or technical than, synonyms like genau, präzise, or genauer. In everyday language, genau is more common, while exakte appears more frequently in scientific, engineering, or statistical contexts.

Common collocations: exakte Wissenschaften (exact sciences), exakte Messungen (precise measurements), exakte Daten (exact data), exakte Zahlen (exact numbers). The term is widely understood in German-speaking regions and appears in academic, industry, and media texts.