hochgradige

Hochgradige is a German attributive adjective meaning high-grade or highly developed, used to indicate a high degree of severity, quality, or differentiation. It is formed from hoch (high) and gradig (gradable/degree) and is not a stand-alone noun. The form changes with gender, number, and case, for example: eine hochgradige Erkrankung (feminine singular), der hochgradige Tumor (masculine singular), die hochgradigen Erkrankungen (plural with definite article), ein hochgradiges Problem (neuter singular).

In practice, hochgradige is most common in formal or technical language, particularly in medical and scientific contexts. It often describes conditions, tumors, or diseases perceived as severe or of high grade, for instance hochgradige Tumore or eine hochgradige Erkrankung. The term emphasizes the intensity or seriousness of a condition rather than merely its presence.

The adverbial counterpart hochgradig is used to modify verbs or adjectives, meaning “highly” or “to a high degree,” as in hochgradig gefährlich or hochgradig komplex. While hochgradig is more versatile in everyday language, hochgradige remains the attributive form typically found directly before a noun.

Etymologically, hochgradige is a compound built from hoch and gradig, reflecting the standard German practice of forming adjectives that express degree by combining a modifier with grad (degree).

See also: German adjective endings, hochgradig, Grad (degree), high-grade in technical terminology.