Hochgefährlich

Hochgefährlich is a German adjective meaning "highly dangerous" or "extremely dangerous." It is used to describe objects, substances, situations, or organisms that pose a significant threat to health, safety, or life. The term signals a high level of risk but is typically qualitative and context-dependent rather than a precise technical classification.

Etymology: It is a compound of hoch ("high") and gefährlich ("dangerous"). The construction is productive in German and can be attached to many nouns to convey intensity, from everyday risk to media descriptions.

Usage: In everyday language people may say something is hochgefährlich, for example when discussing dangerous activities or unsafe conditions. In technical or regulatory contexts, more exact hazard classifications and concrete data are used (for instance, hazard statements, exposure limits, or safety protocols). The phrase is common in journalism, public discourse, and risk communication to convey urgency, but it should be paired with specific information rather than relied upon for precise risk assessment.

Examples: hochgefährliche Substanzen (highly dangerous substances), hochgefährliche Krankheiten (highly dangerous diseases). However, the degree of danger can vary with context, and "hochgefährlich" is not a standardized legal term by itself.

See also: Gefahr, Risiko, Risikobewertung, Gefahrstoff.