Niederlage

Niederlage is a German noun meaning defeat or loss. It denotes the outcome in competitions, battles, elections, or any situation in which one party is defeated. The term can refer to both the event and its result; common phrases include eine Niederlage erleiden (to suffer a defeat), eine Niederlage hinnehmen (to accept a defeat), and the expressions eine bittere Niederlage or eine herbe Niederlage to describe particularly heavy defeats. The opposite is Sieg (victory) or Erfolg (success).

Etymology and forms: The word combines nieder- meaning down or beneath with Lage meaning position or situation. The compound dates from historical Germanic usage and originally described a position brought low; in modern German it is used primarily for defeat in contests and setbacks. It is a countable noun with the plural Niederlagen.

Usage and nuance: Niederlage is used in sports, military history, politics, and business to denote defeat or setback. It is largely neutral in itself, though it can carry emotional weight, especially if the defeat is unexpected or painful. In contrast, terms like Versagen emphasize failure of performance, while Verlust is a broader loss that does not imply a contest defeat. The context determines whether Niederlage is simply descriptive or conveys disappointment or stigma.