unauthorized / unjustified
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unauthorized
Describes a person or action that has no permission, authority, or legal basis.
Unberechtigt geparkte Fahrzeuge werden kostenpflichtig abgeschleppt.
Unauthorized parked vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense.
The word consists of the prefix 'un-' (not) and 'berechtigt' (authorized/entitled). 'Berechtigt' comes from 'das Recht' (the right/law) and means that you have the right or permission for something. 'Unberechtigt' (unauthorized/unjustified) is therefore the exact opposite.
Er hatte das Gefühl, unberechtigt hier zu sein.
He had the feeling that he was unauthorized to be here.
The meaning depends on the word it refers to. If 'unberechtigt' (unauthorized) refers to people or their actions (e.g. access, use), it means 'without permission'. If it refers to abstract things (e.g. criticism, concern), it means 'unjustified'.
Unberechtigte Personen haben hier keinen Zutritt.
Unauthorized persons have no access here.
In the meaning 'without permission', the structure 'unberechtigt sein, etwas zu tun' (to be unauthorized to do something) is often used. It expresses that a person lacks the authority to perform an action.
Sie sind unberechtigt, diese Akte zu lesen.
You are not authorized to read this file.
In the meaning 'not justified', the adjective is often combined with abstract nouns such as 'Vorwurf' (accusation), 'Kritik' (criticism), 'Angst' (fear), 'Sorge' (worry), or 'Forderung' (demand).
Der Vorwurf war unberechtigt und konnte schnell geklärt werden.
The accusation was unjustified and was quickly cleared up.
justified / entitled
'berechtigt' and 'unberechtigt' form a clear contrast. 'berechtigt' means that something has a good reason, or that someone has a right to something. 'unberechtigt' means the opposite: there is no permission, no right, or no good reason. The pair works both for people and actions as well as for criticism, accusations, or worries. So a 'berechtigte Beschwerde' (justified complaint) has a basis; an 'unberechtigte Beschwerde' (unjustified complaint) does not.
Der Vorwurf gegen den Schüler war unberechtigt, weil er die Aufgabe abgegeben hatte.
The accusation against the student was unjustified because he had handed in the assignment.
Die Kritik meiner Kollegin war berechtigt, denn der Bericht war wirklich unvollständig.
My colleague's criticism was justified, because the report really was incomplete.