präzise

Präzise is a German adjective meaning exact, precise, or unambiguous, indicating a high degree of accuracy. It can describe objects, statements, measurements, or procedures, and it also functions as an adverb in phrases such as “präzise arbeiten.” The corresponding noun is Präzision; the related verb is präzisieren.

Originating from French précis (precise) or précisé and ultimately linked to Latin precīsus, präzise entered modern German through scientific and scholarly usage. Today it is common in science, engineering, journalism, and academic writing, as well as in everyday language, to stress clarity and specificity.

Usage and nuance: Präzise emphasizes specificity and clarity beyond mere closeness to a standard. It is especially used when details matter, such as in measurements, definitions, or instructions. It is related to synonyms like genau and exakt, but carries a distinct nuance: genau focuses on correctness relative to a reference point; exakt denotes mathematical or technical exactness; präzise highlights well-defined scope and unambiguous specification.

Examples: Die Messung liefert eine präzise Angabe der Temperatur. Die Beschreibung ist präzise und gut nachvollziehbar. Der Arbeiter führt die Aufgabe sehr präzise aus.

Related terms include Präzision (the noun), präzisieren (to make more precise), and the adverbial use präzise (as in “arbeiten präzise”). See also Exaktheit and Genauigkeit for closely related concepts in measurement and description.