unverletzt

Unverletzt is a German adjective and adverb meaning not injured, unharmed, or intact. It is used to describe a person or thing that has avoided harm or damage, most often in contexts involving accidents, emergencies, or danger. In everyday language it is common to hear phrases such as "Sie kamen unverletzt davon" or "Der Fahrer blieb unverletzt." In official reports, newspapers, and police statements the term frequently appears to indicate that no injuries occurred.

Grammatical note: unverletzt functions primarily as a predicative descriptor, as in "Er kam unverletzt davon." When used attributively, the form may take inflected variants depending on gender, number, and case, for example "ein unverletzt Mann" or more commonly alternatives like "eine unverletzte Person." In many contexts, speakers may also choose related terms such as "unversehrt" or "unbeschädigt" to emphasize physical integrity or absence of damage.

Etymology: unverletzt is formed with the German prefix un- meaning negation plus verletzt (injured), yielding the sense of "not injured." The word has long been in standard use in German, especially in reporting on accidents, medical updates, and safety communications.

Related terms: unversehrt, unbeschädigt, intakt, unbeschadet. While all convey a sense of safety or intactness, unverletzt specifically emphasizes the absence of injury to people or the absence of damage in a context involving harm or risk.

Usage tips: Use unverletzt primarily for people or beings that have avoided harm; for objects, unbeschädigt or unversehrt may be more precise. In formal contexts, prefer concise statements such as "Der Patient blieb unverletzt" or "Kameraden kamen unverletzt durch den Einsatz."