ungenaues

Ungenaues is the neuter singular inflected form of the German adjective ungenau when used attributively with a neuter noun. It functions as an adjective rather than a standalone noun, for example in phrases like ein ungenaues Messgerät or das ungenaue Datum. The form ungenaues appears after an indefinite article (ein ungenaues …) or with a neuter noun in the nominative or accusative case (das ungenaue …).

Etymology and meaning: The term stems from ungenau, combining the prefix un- with genau, meaning precise or exact. Ungenau describes a lack of precision, accuracy, or carefulness, rather than an exact value. It is commonly used in technical, scientific, or everyday language to characterize measurements, statements, or estimates that do not meet a required standard of exactness.

Usage and nuance: Ungenau is contrasted with genau (precise, exact) and präzise (precise, exact in a practical sense). While ungefähre Werte or ungerichtete Schätzungen can imply rough estimates, ungenau focuses on the absence of accuracy in the description or instrument. The term can modify nouns across genders and numbers by adapting to standard German declension, such as ungenaues Maß, ungenaues Vorgehen, or ungenaue Formulierung.

Examples: Ein ungenaues Messgerät liefert fehlerhafte Ergebnisse. Das ungenaue Datum wurde korrigiert. Sein ungenaues Vorgehen führte zu falschen Schlussfolgerungen.

See also: Genauigkeit, Präzision, Ungenauigkeit, Unpräzise.