übergreifendes

Übergreifendes is a German attributive adjective formed from the verb übergreifen, meaning to grasp across or cross boundaries. The form übergreifendes is used before a neuter noun in the singular (for example, ein übergreifendes Konzept) and signals that the thing in question spans multiple domains, disciplines, or organizational units. In broader usage, the adjective can describe ideas, processes, or actions that connect or integrate different areas.

In policy, administration, business, design, and academia, übergreifendes Denken (cross-boundary thinking) or übergreifende Zusammenarbeit (interdepartmental collaboration) emphasize alignment across departments, sectors, or disciplines. In urban planning or product design, übergreifendes Design refers to strategies that integrate usability, accessibility, environment, and infrastructure across platforms or contexts. In research, übergreifendes Arbeiten or transdisziplinäre Ansätze combine methods from several disciplines to address complex problems.

Related terms include übergreifend (adverbial or attributive form without the -es ending in some contexts), grenzüberschreitend (cross-border), and transdisziplinär (transdisciplinary). The English equivalents are cross-cutting, overarching, cross-disciplinary, or cross-functional, depending on context. While common in German-language institutional discourse, übergreifendes is a specialized term, typically found in formal writing, policy documents, and academic or corporate strategy rather than everyday speech.