unantastbar

Unantastbar is a German adjective meaning inviolable, sacrosanct, or untouchable. It describes something that must not be violated, infringed, or compromised.

Etymology and usage: The term is formed with the prefix un- and the verb antasten, “to touch” or “to infringe.” In everyday and technical language it is used for rights, dignity, or other values deemed essential and protected against violation.

In legal and political contexts, unantastbar often signals a boundary that the state may not overstep. A well-known example is the phrase Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar (The dignity of human beings is inviolable), which appears in Article 1 of Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz). The concept also appears in discussions of fundamental rights, privacy, and personal autonomy, where terms like unantastbare Grundrechte (inviolable fundamental rights) are employed.

While the term is broad and normative, its application can be subject to balancing against other legitimate interests in law and policy. In translation, unantastbar is commonly rendered as inviolable, sacrosanct, or untouchable, depending on context.

---