ungenau

Ungenau is a German adjective meaning imprecise or inaccurate. It describes statements, measurements, tools, or representations that lack exactness. The related noun Ungenauigkeit denotes inaccuracy or imprecision, while the opposite concept is Genauigkeit (accuracy) or Präzision (precision). In everyday language, one might say, for example, “Die Angaben sind ungenau” or “Die Karte ist ungenau.”

Etymologically, Ungenau is formed from the negation prefix un- attached to genau, the word for exact. The term is used across various domains to indicate that a description or measurement does not meet a standard of precision. It is often contrasted with terms for exactness and reliability in technical contexts, where precise definitions help distinguish systematic errors from random variation.

In practice, Ungenauigkeit can refer to a range of imperfect outcomes—from a rough estimate in daily life to a measurement error in scientific work. In data quality and reporting, acknowledging Ungenauigkeit is common when uncertainties or limitations affect conclusions. Related expressions include ungenaue Werte (inaccurate values), ungenaue Aussagen (imprecise statements), and Ungenauigkeitsbereiche (uncertainty ranges).

See also: Genauigkeit, Präzision, Ungenauigkeit, Ungenau.