unverkäuflich

Unverkäuflich is a German adjective meaning not saleable or not for sale. It describes objects, goods, or assets that cannot be marketed or transferred through a sale. The term is used in catalogs, inventories, price lists, and official statements to indicate that a item or lot should not be sold.

The word is formed from the negation prefix un- added to verkaufen (to sell), with the adjectival suffix -lich. It can be used both attributively and predicatively, for example: unverkäufliche Ware (unsellable goods) and Das Auto ist unverkäuflich (The car is not for sale).

Usage contexts vary. In retail and logistics, damaged, recalled, or otherwise non-compliant goods may be marked unverkäuflich to prevent sale. In marketing, samples or demonstrators may be labeled unverkäuflich, indicating they are not offered for purchase. In museums, libraries, or cultural institutions, certain items may be considered unverkäuflich due to provenance, legal protections, or institutional ownership agreements. In corporate or government inventories, assets can be declared unverkäuflich if they are obsolete, restricted, or reserved for internal use.

Related terms include nicht verkäuflich, a close synonym used in similar contexts. The term is typically employed in neutral, factual descriptions rather than in evaluative or promotional language. Overall, unverkäuflich serves as a clear label to distinguish items that should not be offered for sale from those that are marketable.