Luftlos

Luftlos is a German adjective that means without air or free of air. It derives from Luft (air) and los (free of). In common usage, it describes environments or substances that lack breathable air or any significant amount of gaseous matter.

In science and engineering, luftlos refers to spaces with negligible air content, typically described as vacuums or near-vacuum conditions. It is contrasted with luftgefüllt (air-filled) or luftdicht (airtight, sealed) in terminology about containment, sealing, and pressure. The degree of luftlosness is measured by pressure, ranging from high vacuum to ultra-high vacuum, and is central to experiments, surface science, and manufacturing processes conducted in controlled atmospheres.

In planetary science and astronomy, airless bodies such as the Moon or Mercury are described as luftlos, meaning they lack substantial atmospheres. The term helps convey the absence of weather, wind, or air-driven processes on such surfaces.

In culture and media, luftlos is used as a motif or title in German-language works to evoke themes of isolation, sterility, or claustrophobic environments. The exact usage varies by work and author, but the concept often connotes a space devoid of air and the associated physical or psychological implications.

See also: Luft, Vakuum, Luftleere, Vakuumtechnik, Luftdicht.