Ungepaart

Ungepaart is an adjective in German meaning “unpaired” or “not in a pair.” It is used to describe objects or entities that do not have a partner or mate. The term appears in technical, scientific, and demographic contexts and is most commonly found in German-language sources; English texts typically render the concept with phrases such as “unpaired” or “unpaired electron,” rather than borrowing ungepaart directly.

In science, ungepaart is frequently used to describe unpaired particles or states. For example, ungepaartes Elektron refers to an unpaired electron, a key concept in radical chemistry and in discussions of paramagnetism. The term also appears in discussions of electronic configuration, where certain metals or radicals may possess ungepaarte Elektronen that influence magnetic and reactive properties. In chemistry and physics, ungepaart is typically combined with a following noun to specify what is unpaired (e.g., ungepaartes Elektron, ungepaarte Elektronen).

In social statistics and demography, ungepaart is used to describe individuals who are not in a partnered or conjugal relationship. Phrasings such as ungepaarte Personen or ungepaarte Haushalte may appear in census reports, surveys, and population studies to distinguish single or non-partnered members of a population from those in paired or family units.

Etymology and form: ungepaart derives from un- (negation) + gepaart (paired), from the verb paaren (to pair). It functions as a standard attributive adjective, with typical German noun endings (e.g., ein ungepaartes Elektron; zwei ungepaarte Elektronen).

See also: unpaired electron, paramagnetism, single (marital status), pairing (chemistry).