Annexed

Annexed is the past participle of annex, meaning to attach or incorporate something as an added part. The term is used in two main senses: territorial annexation, where a land area is brought under the sovereignty of a state, and attachment of material to a document as an annex. The word derives from Latin annexus, from ad- “to” + nectere “to bind.”

In international law, annexation refers to the unilateral incorporation of territory into a state, usually following seizure or occupation. It is distinct from treaty-based cession or voluntary merger. Because territorial acquisition by force is generally seen as illegitimate, unilateral annexations are widely condemned, and recognition of such acts varies among states. Notable historical examples include the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation after a disputed referendum, the 1938 annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany (Anschluss), and the 1940 incorporation of the Baltic states by the Soviet Union. In many legal and political contexts, formal annexation may occur through negotiated agreement or constitutional processes, but such actions are weighed against principles of self-determination and territorial integrity.

In non-territorial usage, annex describes material added to a document, book, or contract. An annex or annexure contains supplementary information such as data, schedules, or terms, often used to keep the main text concise while providing detail in a separate section.