German word

abstrakt

Pronunciation

IPA/apˈstʁakt/

Meaning

  • adjectiveabstract

Example

Das ist eine abstrakte Idee.

That is an abstract idea.

Illustration for abstrakt (abstract)

More examples

Seine Argumente enthielten viele abstrakte Inhalte.

His arguments contained a lot of abstract content.

Core concept

A map stripped of locations and details, leaving only the general pattern they share.

Common phrases

  • abstrakte Sprache

    abstract language

  • abstrakte Inhalte

    abstract content

Similar words

konkret: Specific and clearly demonstrated through concrete facts or cases.
theoretisch: Based mainly on theoretical ideas, principles, or explanations.
allgemein: Broad enough to cover many people, cases, or situations.
vage: Imprecise, indistinct, and difficult to understand exactly.

Definition in German

Von konkreten Einzelheiten losgelöst und auf allgemeine Merkmale oder Begriffe bezogen.

Word origin

German abstrakt comes through learned Latin from abstractus, the past participle of abstrahere, meaning 'draw away'.

Usage tips

  • As a predicate adjective, abstrakt has no ending after sein, while an attributive form such as abstrakte changes with the noun.

Other meanings

  • conceptualadjective
  • theoreticaladjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Abstraktionabstractionnoun

Word lists with this word