German edit

Etymology edit

From the expression etwas seinem Zweck entfremden (literally to alienate something from its purpose). Historically, either from zweckentfremden +‎ -ung or from Zweck +‎ Entfremdung.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈtsvɛk.ɛntˌfrɛmdʊŋ/, [ˈt͡sʋɛk.ʔɛntˌfrɛm.dʊŋ], [ˈt͡sʋɛ.kɛnt-], [-dʊŋk]
  • (file)

Noun edit

Zweckentfremdung f (genitive Zweckentfremdung, plural Zweckentfremdungen)

  1. repurposing (the act of using something for a purpose other than the originally intended one)
    Synonyms: Umnutzung, Umfunktionierung
  2. (often more negative) misuse, wrongful use
    Synonym: Missbrauch

Declension edit