unbestritten

Unbestritten is a German adjective and adverb derived from the prefix un- and the participle bestritten (to dispute). It denotes that something is beyond dispute or generally accepted as true, not contested. As an attributive adjective it can describe nouns, for example unbestrittene Fakten (undisputed facts). In predicative use, it appears in constructions like Es ist unbestritten, dass … (It is undisputed that …).

Etymology and usage notes

The term combines negation with bestritten, indicating removal of dispute or contention. It is common in formal and written German, including journalism, policy statements and academic prose, where the author wishes to present a claim as widely recognized. Because it signals consensus, it can carry strong rhetorical weight and should be used when such consensus is evident or necessary to emphasize.

Translations and related terms

In English, unbestritten translates to undisputed or undeniable, depending on context. Related German terms include unstrittig (uncontroversial), unbestreitbar (indisputable or undeniable), and fraglos (incontestable). While related, these terms carry subtle differences in nuance: unstrittig highlights lack of disagreement, unbestreitbar stresses undeniability, and fraglos conveys sheer clarity.

See also

German vocabulary on dispute and agreement; linguistic usage of prefixes in German; comparisons among synonyms for emphasizing consensus in formal discourse.