verfehlt

Verfehlt is a German term that functions as both a verb and an adjective. As a verb, verfehlen means to miss the mark or to fail to reach a target; used transitively with a direct object. For example, "Der Schütze verfehlte das Ziel" and "Ich habe das Ziel verfehlt." The past participle is verfehlt and is used with the auxiliary haben: "Er hat das Ziel verfehlt." The simple past is "verfehlte."

As an adjective, verfehlt can describe something unsuccessful or not achieved, with phrases such as "verfehltes Ziel," "verfehlte Chancen," or "eine verfehlte Strategie." It can be used predicatively or attributively.

In usage, verfehlen covers both concrete targets (a goal, a shot, a target) and more abstract aims (policy goals, strategic objectives). It can be used figuratively to condemn plans or judgments that failed to meet expectations, e.g., "eine verfehlte Einschätzung" or "eine politisch verfehlte Maßnahme."

Etymology: the verb is formed with the inseparable prefix ver- attached to the verb fehlen (to be missing, to fail). The term is common in standard German and appears in both spoken and written registers. Translations into English include miss, fail to hit, miss the mark, or be off-target.

See also: fehlschlagen, verfehlen, Zielerreichung.