deliktischer

Deliktischer is an adjective used in German legal language to describe something that relates to a Delikt. A Delikt is a civil wrong or wrongful act that can give rise to liability in private law, and the term is often contrasted with vertragliche Haftung (contractual liability). In practice, deliktisch denotes aspects connected with delicts and delictual liability, such as deliktische Haftung, deliktisches Verhalten, or deliktischer Anspruch.

In private law, liability for damages arising from a Delikt is typically described as deliktische Haftung. The core idea is that the act was rechtswidrig (unlawful) and, in many cases, schuldhaft (at fault) and caused Schaden (damage) through kausale Verbindung. The exact elements and rules differ by jurisdiction, but the overarching concept remains: liability stems from a non-contractual wrongful act rather than a breach of a contract.

Etymology and usage: the term Delikt comes from Latin delictum and entered German via legal language. The adjective form deliktisch or deliktischer is used to modify nouns in legal texts, decisions, and scholarly work, for example deliktischer Anspruch, deliktische Rechtsfolgen, or deliktisches Verhalten. It is less common outside of legal discourse.

Context and scope: while Delikt and deliktisch are most closely associated with civil (non-contractual) responsibility, the notion is sometimes discussed in broader legal contexts where wrongdoing is relevant, including certain aspects of criminal law when considering civil liability for criminal acts. In everyday language, deliktischer usage is generally confined to formal or academic discussions.