Aanwezige

Aanwezige is a Dutch term with two closely related uses. As an adjective, het means present or in attendance, describing someone who is physically there at a location or event. As a noun, de aanwezige refers to a person who is present, with de aanwezigen forming the plural for attendees or those in attendance. The word is commonly used in formal contexts such as meetings, courts, or official records to distinguish participants who are present from those who are absent (afwezig).

Etymology and form: aan- plus aanwezig give rise to the noun form aanwezig?e, which in practice is used as a noun with the definite article. The plural form is aanwezigen. The term is gender-neutral in its noun form; singular de aanwezige covers both masculine and feminine referents. In everyday language, the word appears in phrases like de aanwezige leden, de aanwezige partijen, or er waren aanwezigen.

Usage notes: The term emphasizes presence at a specific event or location and is common in minutes, agendas, and legal documents. It is often contrasted with afwezige (absent) or afwezig (absent) to indicate attendance status. While menys formal equivalents include deelnemers or aanwezigen in plural, aanwezige is widely understood and precise in indicating that the person is currently present.

See also: aanwezigheid (presence), afwezigheid (absence), aanwezige partijen, aanwezige leden, de aanwezigen.