eindeutige

Eindeutige is the inflected form of the German adjective eindeutig, which means unambiguous, clear, or unequivocal. It is used to describe statements, data, designs, or interpretations that have a single clear meaning or outcome. The base adjective eindeutig is common in technical and academic contexts, while eindeutige appears in various declined forms to agree with a feminine singular noun or with plural nouns.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines ein- (one) with deutlich (clear). The sense is that there is only one clear interpretation or result. In everyday German, eindeutige is frequently used in contrast to mehrdeutige or zweideutige, which signal ambiguity or multiple possible readings.

Usage and examples: In everyday language, you might encounter phrases such as eine eindeutige Antwort (a clear answer), eine eindeutige Lösung (a unique solution), or eine eindeutige Zuordnung (a definite mapping). In the plural, man spricht von eindeutige Ergebnisse (clear results). In formal or scientific writing, the term helps convey precision and determinacy.

Domains and nuances: In linguistics, eindeutige interpretations are preferred over mehrdeutige (ambiguous) readings. In mathematics and computer science, eine eindeutige Zuordnung or eine eindeutige Lösung describes a function or result with exactly one value. The term is commonly used in arguments about clarity, validity, and reproducibility.

Grammar note: As an attributive adjective, einduitige endings vary with gender, number, and case (e.g., die eindeutige Antwort, das eindeutige Ergebnis, eindeutige Ergebnisse). In predicative position, one would normally say es ist eindeutig rather than es ist eindeutige.