Krankhafte

Krankhafte is a German attributive adjective formed from krank, meaning ill, and the suffix -haft, which signals “having the quality of” or “characterized by.” The term denotes something pathological, abnormal, or excessively pronounced, rather than merely sick in the ordinary sense. It is used in medical, scientific, and descriptive language as well as in figurative speech.

In medical and clinical contexts, krankhafte often precedes nouns to indicate a disease-related or dysfunctional state, for example krankhafte Veränderungen (pathological changes) or krankhafte Neigung (pathological tendency). It is similar in meaning to pathologisch, though it can carry a slightly broader or less technical nuance depending on the context and audience.

In everyday language, krankhafte is also used to emphasize excessiveness or dysfunction in non-medical descriptions, such as krankhafte Eifersucht (pathological jealousy) or krankhafte Abhängigkeit (pathological dependency). This usage highlights abnormal intensity or problematic patterns rather than diagnostic status alone, and it can convey a critical or evaluative tone.

Relation to terminology varies by context: pathologisch is the standard term in formal medical writing, while krankhaft appears more often in descriptive or lay discourse. Both express that a characteristic deviates from the norm due to illness or dysfunction, but choice of term can influence perceived formality and precision.