védtelen

Védtelen is a Hungarian adjective meaning lacking protection or defense; defenseless, unprotected, or vulnerable. It describes people, animals, or situations that do not have adequate means to defend themselves or to be shielded from harm. The term is commonly used in humanitarian, legal, and literary contexts to highlight vulnerability and exposure to risk.

Etymologically, védtelen is formed from the verb védeni (to defend) with the suffix -telen, which marks the absence of the quality. The word functions as a modifier before a noun, as in védtelen gyermek (defenseless child) or védtelen állat (unprotected animal). It can also be used more abstractly in phrases such as védtelen helyzet (a defenseless situation) or védtelen környezet (an unprotected environment).

In usage, védtelen emphasizes vulnerability rather than culpability; it is often employed to argue for protection, support, or intervention. The related adverb is védtelenül, used to describe actions performed in a defenseless or unprotected manner. While synonymy varies by context, védtelen is commonly translated as defenseless or unprotected in English and is contrasted with terms that denote protection or security.

Translations and equivalents in other languages depend on context but typically align with defenseless, unprotected, or vulnerable. In Hungarian discourse, védtelen remains a standard descriptor for people or groups lacking protection, as well as for states of risk where protective measures are absent or insufficient.