Onterechte

Onterecht is an adjective in Dutch meaning unjustified or unfounded. It is used to describe statements, claims, or actions that lack proper justification, evidence, or basis. The form can appear predicatively as in “De beschuldiging was onterecht” or attributively before a noun as in “een onterechte bewering” or “onrechtvaardigde beschuldigingen” (the last is more typical in compounds with ungerechtvaardigd, but onterechte is common for everyday usage).

Etymology and usage

The word is built from the negating prefix on- and het woord kracht/recht (root meaning right or justified). In standard Dutch the base adjective is onterecht; its attributive form before a noun is onterechte, often followed by a singular or plural noun. The term is widely used in media, politics, law, and everyday language to label claims, accusations, or conclusions deemed not supported or not warranted.

Contexts and collocations

Common phrases include onterechte beschuldiging (unfounded accusation), onterechte bewering (unfounded claim), and onterecht veroordeeld (unjustly convicted). It can also modify verbs adverbially in the sense that something is done in an onterecht manner. Related terms emphasize degree of justification, such as ongegrond (groundless) or ongerechtvaardigd (unjustified), while gerechtvaardigd (justified) is the direct antonym.

Nuance

Onterecht focuses on lack of justification or evidence and can carry moral or legal overtones, depending on context. It does not strictly imply criminal intent; it often points to faulty reasoning, insufficient proof, or misrepresentation.

See also

Ongegrond, ongerechtvaardigd, gerechtvaardigd, onrechtvaardigheid.

Note

Onterecht is a standard Dutch term; this article reflects its common usage and nuances in contemporary Dutch-language sources.