unverhältnismäßige

Unverhältnismäßige is an adjectival form used in German to describe actions, measures, or claims that are not in proportion to their aim, necessity, or consequence. It denotes that something exceeds what is appropriate or permissible relative to the underlying objective or context.

In legal and political discourse the term often appears in connection with the proportionality principle (Verhältnismäßigkeitsprinzip). German constitutional and administrative law uses a four-step test to assess proportionality: the aim must be legitimate, the means must be suitable to achieve it, the means must be necessary (no equally effective, less intrusive alternative exists), and the impact on rights or interests must be proportionate in the narrower sense. If any step fails, the measure can be described as unverhältnismäßig.

Common domains of application include public policy, law enforcement, and human rights debates. For example, a policy or sanction described as unverhältnismäßig would be viewed as overly broad, excessive, or unduly burdensome compared with the significant interest it seeks to protect. The term can also be used more generally to criticize arguments or claims seen as exaggerated or disproportionate to the facts.

Related concepts include verhältnismäßig (proportionate) and Verhältnismäßigkeitsprinzip (principle of proportionality). The phrase serves to emphasize that proportionate considerations are central to evaluating legality, legitimacy, and fairness in various social and political contexts.