eindeutig

Eindeutig is an adjective in German that means unambiguous, unequivocal, or clearly determined. It describes statements, signals, or results that allow only a single interpretation or answer, leaving little or no room for doubt or misinterpretation.

In everyday language, eindeutig is used for clear conclusions or mappings, such as eine eindeutige Antwort, eine eindeutige Zuordnung oder eine eindeutig identifizierbare Situation. In logic, philosophy and mathematics the term often describes problems or solutions with a unique interpretation or outcome, for example eine eindeutige Lösung oder eine eindeutig festgelegte Regel.

In computing and information science the concept appears in terms like eindeutiger Bezeichner (unique identifier) or eindeutige Zuordnung (one-to-one mapping), where clarity and lack of ambiguity are essential for correct data handling, indexing and retrieval. The word is also used in legal and administrative contexts to indicate clear, unambiguous rules or statements.

Etymology and related terms: eindeutig is formed from ein- (one, single) and deutlich (clear, obvious). Related concepts include zweideutig (ambiguous) and mehrdeutig (multi-meaning), which describe the opposite or broader interpretive possibilities. Eindeutig emphasizes a single, definite interpretation, while synonyms such as klar or unmissverständlich can carry slightly different nuances or strengths of certainty.