Megfosztás

Megfosztás is a Hungarian noun meaning deprivation or dispossession, describing the act of depriving someone of something they possess or are entitled to. The base verb is megfosztani, formed with the prefix meg- and the verb fosztani, which conveys the idea of stripping away or taking away.

In legal contexts, megfosztás refers to the act of depriving a person of property or of legal rights. The exact meaning and consequences depend on the jurisdiction and legal tradition. In some uses it designates a criminal offense involving the unlawful removal of another’s property or rights, while in others it is a broader description of loss induced by administrative, judicial, or other actions. The term can be applied to various forms of dispossession, from physical possession of property to the enjoyment of rights or privileges.

In sociopolitical and academic discourse, megfosztás is also used to discuss deprivation in a broader sense, such as the denial of access to resources, opportunities, or social participation. This usage is common in studies of poverty, inequality, human rights, and social policy, where it describes conditions that limit an individual’s or group’s ability to lead a normal life or exercise fundamental rights.

Common expressions include megfosztani valakitől valamit (to deprive someone of something) and megfosztás (the act or state of deprivation). Related concepts in Hungarian include kisemmizés (dispossession or disenfranchisement), elkobzás (confiscation), és kizárás (exclusion). The term’s precise interpretation is context-dependent, varying with legal framework and disciplinary perspective.