unbefristet
permanent
Definition & meaning
Unbefristet means unlimited in time, open-ended, or without a fixed end date. It describes something that does not have a predetermined expiration or termination date.
It is especially common in legal, administrative, and employment contexts:
- An unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag is a permanent employment contract with no specified end date.
- An unbefristete Aufenthaltserlaubnis is a residence permit without a fixed expiration date.
- An unbefristetes Abonnement continues until it is cancelled or terminated.
“Unbefristet” does not necessarily mean that something can never end. It can still be terminated, cancelled, or ended under the applicable rules.
Grammar & Word origin
Unbefristet is an adjective and the past participle of befristen , “to set a time limit on” or “to make temporary.”
It is formed with:
- un- — a negating prefix meaning “not” or “without”
- befristet — “limited in time”
- Frist — “deadline,” “time limit,” or “period”
Examples of declension:
- ein unbefristeter Vertrag — an open-ended contract
- eine unbefristete Stelle — a permanent position
- ein unbefristetes Arbeitsverhältnis — an indefinite employment relationship
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- dauerhaft — permanent or lasting; emphasizes durability rather than specifically the absence of an end date.
- zeitlich unbegrenzt — unlimited in time; a more explicit and literal alternative.
- auf unbestimmte Zeit — for an indefinite period; often used in formal and legal language.
- permanent — permanent; common in everyday and professional language, but sometimes less precise than unbefristet in legal contexts.
Antonyms
- befristet — limited to a specified period or end date; the direct antonym.
- zeitlich begrenzt — time-limited; emphasizes that a defined duration exists.
- vorübergehend — temporary or transitory; emphasizes that something is not intended to last permanently.
Common phrases & collocations
- ein unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag — an open-ended employment contract
- eine unbefristete Stelle — a permanent position
- unbefristet beschäftigt sein — to be employed on a permanent basis
- ein unbefristetes Aufenthaltsrecht — an indefinite right of residence
- auf unbefristete Zeit — for an indefinite period
- unbefristet verlängert werden — to be extended indefinitely
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Examples
Er hat einen unbefristeten Vertrag.adjective
He has a permanent contract.
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