Unbefugte

Unbefugte is a German term that can function as a noun or as an adjective. As a noun, Unbefugte refers to people who lack authorization or permission. As an adjective, the standard form is unbefugt, used to describe something that is not authorised or not permitted. In everyday and formal language, the noun form Unbefugte is common in safety, security, and policy contexts.

In security and access-control contexts, the term denotes prohibited access by persons who do not have the necessary clearance. Common phrases include signs or rules such as “Unbefugten ist der Zutritt verboten” (Unauthorized access is prohibited) or “Zutrittskontrolle für unbefugte Personen.” The concept is central to workplace safety, building security, and information protection policies, where physical and digital access is restricted to authorised individuals.

In information security and data protection, unbefugte denotes unauthorised actions or knowledge, for example “unbefugte Kenntnisnahme” (unauthorized knowledge) or “unbefugter Zugriff” (unauthorized access). These terms are used in risk assessments, incident reports, and compliance frameworks to distinguish permitted from prohibited activities.

Etymology and related terms: unbefugte stems from un- (negation) and befugt (authorized). Related terms include unbefugt, unberechtigt, and unauthorized equivalents in other languages. While closely related, nuances exist: unbefugt typically emphasizes lack of authority, while unberechtigt can imply entitlement or legal right is absent. This distinction is common in policy language and legal contexts.