unverhältnismäßig

Unverhältnismäßig is a German adjective that translates to disproportionate or excessive in English. It describes a situation where the scale or magnitude of something is out of balance with its context, purpose, or the circumstances surrounding it. The term is often used in legal contexts to describe actions or penalties that are considered too severe or not justified by the offense committed. For instance, a punishment might be deemed unverhältnismäßig if it significantly outweighs the harm caused by the act.

Beyond legal applications, unverhältnismäßig can also describe any action, reaction, or expenditure that is considered excessive or unreasonable. This could range from a disproportionate amount of effort being put into a trivial task to an overly strong emotional response to a minor event. The core idea is a lack of proportion, where the outcome or response does not logically or reasonably align with the initial situation or cause. Understanding this concept is crucial for evaluating fairness and appropriateness in various aspects of life.