Ungeordnet

Ungeordnet is a German adjective meaning not ordered or not arranged according to a fixed sequence or rule. It denotes the absence of a defined order and is the negation of geordnet. The term is commonly used to describe physical arrangements, data collections, or processes that have not been organized according to a particular criterion. In everyday language one might speak of an ungeordnet pile of papers, as opposed to a neatly geordnet stack.

Etymology: ungeordnet derives from Ordnung, meaning order, with the prefix un- indicating negation. Related forms include Unordnung, the noun for disorder, and the opposite adjective geordnet.

In mathematical and computational contexts, ungeordnet describes objects that lack a chosen order relation. A set without a specified order is ungeordnet; an unordered pair (a, b) does not imply a < b or a > b. In databases, lists, or collections, an ungeordnet arrangement does not reflect any sorting criterion. Applying a sort operation converts an ungeordnet sequence into a geordnet one, producing a defined sequence or ordering.

Usage notes: In formal writing, it is common to specify ungeordnet vs. geordnet to clarify the presence or absence of an order relation. The term is primarily used in technical descriptions within mathematics, computer science, and data handling; in everyday language it is often replaced by phrases like „ohne feste Ordnung“ or „unsortiert.“ The English equivalents are unordered or disordered.

See also: geordnet, Ordnung, Sortierung, Unordnung, unordered (in English).