Gescheiterte

Gescheiterte is a German term formed from the verb scheitern (to fail) and its past participle gescheitert. It functions both as an attributive adjective and as a noun in its substantive form. As an adjective, gescheiterte describes something that has failed or come to nothing, and it agrees with the noun it modifies (e.g., ein gescheiterter Plan, eine gescheiterte Beziehung, ein gescheiteres Unternehmen). In plural usage it yields gescheiterte Projekte.

As a noun, Gescheiterte (often capitalized) refers to people who have failed in some endeavor and is used as a substantive plural der Gescheiterte or die Gescheiterten, with the singular der Gescheiterte or die Gescheiterte. The noun form can carry pejorative connotations and is more common in social or biographical contexts than in formal writing.

Etymology and usage notes: gescheiterte derives from the past participle gescheitert, with the added participial ending -e in attributive position and standard German noun capitalization when used as a noun. The term appears in discussions of failed ventures, relationships, careers, or plans, and can also appear in literary or journalistic contexts to convey impact or judgment.

See also: Scheitern, gescheitert, Fehlschlag. While neutral in description of outcomes, the term often carries evaluative nuance and may be perceived as critical when referring to people.