Auflage

Auflage is a German noun with several related meanings that share the sense of something laid down or imposed. In publishing, it denotes the number of copies produced in a single issuance and indicates a particular edition. The phrase "die Auflage" can refer to the edition as such, while "eine Auflage von 5.000 Exemplaren" specifies a print run of 5,000 copies. When a work is revised, the new release is called a "Neuauflage" or "neue Auflage." The term is widely used in bibliographies and publishing records to trace edition history and publication size.

In legal, administrative, and regulatory contexts, Auflage means a condition or obligation attached to a permit, decision, or sentence. Authorities may impose Auflagen to be met by the recipient, such as environmental, safety, or reporting requirements in licensing processes. The expressions "Auflagen erteilen" (to impose conditions) and "Auflagen erfüllen" (to comply with conditions) are common. In criminal or probation contexts, Auflagen can accompany decisions such as parole or probation, specifying actions the offender must take or refrain from.

Etymology and usage: Auflage derives from the verb auflegen, meaning to lay upon or to impose. The plural form is Auflagen. The term is used across domains to denote either the size of a published edition or a set of conditions tied to an approval or judgment. Related terms include Neuauflage (revised edition) and Zweitauflage (second edition).