ungerechtfertigte

Ungerechtigte is the attributive form of the German adjective ungerechtfertigt, meaning unjustified or not warranted. It indicates that a claim, action, statement, or measure lacks justification, grounds, or a legal basis. As an attributive adjective, ungerechtfertigte appears before a noun and takes the appropriate ending according to gender, number, and case. Examples include eine ungerechtfertigte Forderung (a baseless claim), eine ungerechtfertigte Maßnahme (an unjustified measure), and ungerechtfertigte Kritik (unjustified criticism). In plural form it appears as ungerechtfertigte Forderungen; with a definite article it becomes die ungerechtfertigten Forderungen.

Predicative usage is also possible without the ending: Die Behauptung ist ungerechtfertigt. In this position ungerechtfertigt functions as a predicate adjective and conveys that something is not justified.

Etymology and usage context: The word is formed from gerecht (just) with the prefix un- indicating negation, together with the notion of justification. Ungerechtfertigte is commonly used in legal, political, and media language to label assertions, actions, or measures as lacking justification. It is closely related to synonyms such as unbegründet (unfounded) and unberechtigt (not authorized), though each term carries slightly different nuance: unbegründet emphasizes lack of grounds, unberechtigt emphasizes lack of rightful entitlement, and ungerechtfertigt stresses absence of justification.

Legal context: In civil law, phrases like ungerechtfertigte Bereicherung refer to unjust enrichment—receiving a benefit without legal justification. In everyday language, the term helps to critique statements or decisions that are seen as lacking proper justification or grounds.