Verursachter

Verursachter is not a standard German noun. In everyday and formal usage, the agent noun formed from the verb verursachen is Verursacher, meaning a person or entity that causes something, such as damage, an accident, or pollution. The form Verursachter is rarely encountered and is generally regarded as nonstandard, a misspelling, or a very rare archaic or poetic variant.

Etymology and form. Verursachen means to cause; the usual agent noun is Verursacher (der Verursacher) or, for a female subject, Verursacherin. The suffix -er is the typical German derivational ending for agents. The ending -achter is not productive in standard German agent nouns, which explains why Verursachter is regarded as unusual or incorrect by most dictionaries.

Usage and implications. If Verursachter appears, it should be treated with caution. In formal writing, legal texts, policy discussions, and most journalistic contexts, the correct term to use is Verursacher. When referring to the cause itself rather than the responsible party, die Verursache (the cause) or der Grund (the reason) may be appropriate.

Related concepts. The related term Verursacherprinzip, known in environmental and liability law, denotes the principle that the party responsible for causing damage bears the costs. Related nouns include Verursache (the cause) and Ursache (the cause or origin in a more general sense).

See also. Verursacher, Verursacherin, Verursacherprinzip, Verursache, Ursache.