widerrechtlich

Widerrechtlich is a German adjective and adverb meaning unlawful or illegal; literally, “against the law.” It describes actions, states, or claims that violate legal norms or infringe rights.

In German legal language, widerrechtlich characterizes conduct that contravenes the law or infringes rights. It is used across civil, criminal, and administrative contexts and appears in statutes, court decisions, and academic texts. A close synonym is rechtswidrig, though some authors distinguish the terms by nuance: widerrechtlich emphasizes violation of the legal order or of protected rights, while rechtswidrig is a more general designation of illegality.

Usage is more common in formal or written language than in everyday speech; in everyday language, rechtswidrig or gesetzeswidrig are often preferred.

Etymology: from wider- (“against”) and rechtlich (“legal”). The term is established in German legal writing and remains current in modern jurisprudence, including Austrian and Swiss sources.

Common collocations include widerrechtlich erlangte Vermögenswerte, widerrechtliche Eingriffe, and widerrechtliche Handlungen.