Unbefugt

Unbefugt is a German adjective and adverb meaning “without authorization” or “not authorized.” It describes actions, access, or existence that occur without the permission or the legal authority granted to a person or entity. The term is commonly used to indicate that someone lacks the rights to perform a certain act or to access certain information, property, or systems.

As an attributive adjective, unbefugt accompanies a noun: unbefugte Personen, unbefugter Zugriff, unbefugtes Betreten. In predicate or adverbial use, it qualifies a verb or clause: Der Zugang war unbefugt oder Der Nutzer hat unbefugt gehandelt. The word is formed from the prefix un- plus befugt, which denotes being empowered or authorized.

Common contexts include data protection and information security (unbefugter Zugriff auf Daten), property and premises security (unbefugtes Betreten von Gelände), and general civil or administrative contexts (unbefugte Nutzung von Ressourcen). In legal and regulatory language, unbefugt handeln or unbefugte Handlungen often signals violations and can carry consequences such as criminal or civil liability, depending on the applicable law and the severity of the act.

Related terms include befugt (authorized), autorisiert (authorized), and without direct synonym: ohne Genehmigung or ohne Erlaubnis. Antonyms emphasize legitimate authority or permission. The term is widely used in official notices, security policies, and everyday language to denote lack of permission or authority.