die Strafanzeige, -n

Definition & meaning

A Strafanzeige is a formal notification to law enforcement authorities (police or public prosecutor's office) informing them that a criminal offense has been committed. It serves as an official report that triggers an investigation into the suspected crime.

It is important to note that a Strafanzeige is distinct from a "Strafantrag" (criminal complaint). While a Strafanzeige is simply an information report about a crime, a "Strafantrag" is a formal request from the victim asking the state to actually prosecute the specific offender, which is a requirement for certain types of offenses (such as trespassing or minor bodily injury).

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Strafanzeige, plural: die Strafanzeigen).

It is a compound noun consisting of two parts:

1. Straf-: Derived from Strafe (punishment, penalty), referring to the context of criminal law.
2. Anzeige: Derived from the verb anzeigen (to report, to notify, to display), meaning a notification or report.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Strafanzeige↗ can be referred to as a Strafantrag↗ (in cases where a formal request for prosecution is required).
• Mitteilung an die Staatsanwaltschaft[?](vocabuo://word/Mitteilung an die Staatsanwaltschaft) (official notification to the public prosecutor).
• Anzeige↗ (a general term for a report).

Antonyms:

• There is no direct antonym, but one could contrast it with a Strafvereitelung↗, which refers to the obstruction of justice or the intent to prevent the prosecution of a crime.