unveräußerlicher

Unveräußerlicher is a German adjective meaning inalienable or non-transferable. It describes qualities, rights, or values that cannot be ceded, sold, or relinquished, even for compensation. The term is commonly used in philosophical and legal contexts to emphasize an intrinsic character that resists disposal.

Etymology and form: unveräußerlich is derived from veräußern (to dispose of or sell) with the prefix un- and the suffix -lich. It is used attributively before nouns and agrees with gender and number: ein unveräußerlicher Wert, eine unveräußerliche Würde, unveräußerliche Rechte, unveräußerliches Eigentum. The related noun form das Unveräußerliche can appear in more abstract discussions.

Usage and nuance: The word signals that something is fundamentally non-transferable due to its essential nature or moral weight. It is often applied to rights or dignities (for example, unveräußerliche Rechte or unveräußerliche Würde) and to abstract principles or values considered part of a person’s core standing. In legal discourse, unveräußerlich contrasts with terms like unveräußerbar, which also denotes non-transferability but can carry slightly different stylistic or normative connotations.

Examples: Common collocations include unveräußerliche Rechte (inalienable rights), unveräußerliche Würde (inalienable dignity), and unveräußerlicher Wert (inalienable value). While public law frequently discusses inalienable rights, the exact phrasing in German text varies; unveräußerlich is a flexible stylistic option in scholarly writing.

See also: Inalienable rights; German constitutional and philosophical discussions of fundamental rights and dignity.