Irrtums

Irrtum is a German noun meaning error, mistake, or misconception. The form Irrtums is the genitive singular, used to indicate possession or attribution, as in die Folgen des Irrtums. The word derives from the verb irren, to err or wander, with the suffix -tum forming a noun that denotes a state or condition.

In law, Irrtum refers to a mistaken belief or declaration that can affect the validity of a contract or legal act. German civil law recognizes several related concepts, such as Erklärungsirrtum (error in the declaration) and Inhaltsirrtum (error about the content). These ideas form the basis for certain challenges or rescissions of declarations, subject to statutory conditions. There are also notions related to mistakes about essential characteristics of a thing, and, more broadly, judges consider whether a person was sufficiently mistaken to justify relief. Not all errors about the law itself (Rechtsirrtum) qualify for relief, and the availability of remedies depends on jurisdiction and circumstances.

Outside the legal sphere, Irrtum denotes any mistaken belief or cognitive error. In philosophy and epistemology, it is used to discuss fallibility, the reliability of knowledge, and methods for correcting false beliefs. In everyday language, people speak of Irrtümer and use phrases like “das war ein Irrtum” or “aus Irrtümern lernen,” highlighting learning from mistakes rather than guilt.

Overall, Irrtum and its genitive Irrtums describe the broad phenomenon of error, spanning linguistic usage, law, and theory, while remaining a common term in German for both everyday and formal contexts.