Vermeidbares

Vermeidbares is a German adjective meaning “avoidable” or “capable of being avoided.” It is formed from the verb vermeiden (to avoid) and the suffix -bar, which indicates capability. The word is used to describe things that could be prevented or circumvented through actions, decisions, or policies.

In usage, vermeidbares often appears in discussions of risk, safety, costs, damages, and health outcomes. Common compounds include vermeidbare Kosten (avoidable costs), vermeidbare Schäden (avoidable damages), and vermeidbare Risiken (avoidable risks). The form is inflected like a typical German adjective; for example, das vermeidbare Risiko (the avoidable risk) and die vermeidbaren Kosten (the avoidable costs). The base form without article is vermeidbar, while the neuter form in different cases may appear as vermeidbares.

Nuances and distinctions are important in German-language texts. Vermeidbares is contrasted with unvermeidbar (unavoidable). Some discussions distinguish between actions that reduce risk to avoid harm and cases where avoidance is not feasible due to constraints such as resources, feasibility, or competing priorities. In public health and safety discourse, vermeidbare harm or vermeidbare Mortality refers to outcomes that could have been prevented with timely and effective interventions, policy changes, or improved systems of care.

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from vermeiden (to avoid) with the -bar suffix, akin to other German adjectives meaning “able to be X.” Related concepts include Vermeidung (prevention) and Risikomanagement (risk management). In English-language texts, the equivalent terms are often “avoidable” or “preventable.”