noun

Attentatsversuch

assassination attempt

Definition & meaning

The word Attentatsversuch refers to an assassination attempt or an attempted attack. It describes a situation where a person or group tries to kill or seriously harm a public figure, such as a politician or a head of state, for political, ideological, or religious reasons. The term implies that the act was initiated but did not lead to the intended death or destruction, either because the perpetrator failed or because the plot was intercepted by security forces.

While most commonly used for targeted killings of individuals, it can also refer to an attempted terrorist attack on a specific infrastructure or a group of people.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a masculine compound noun: der Attentatsversuch. The plural form is die Attentatsversuche.

It consists of two main parts joined by a linking -s- (Fugen-s):

das Attentat: Meaning assassination or attack. This word entered German in the 18th century from the French attentat, which originates from the Latin attentatum (an attempt or an attack).
der Versuch: Meaning attempt or trial. This is derived from the verb versuchen, which means to try or to attempt.