Befristeten

Befristeten is a German adjective form meaning time-limited or temporary. In everyday use it describes contracts, arrangements or positions that end on a specified date or upon the completion of a defined task. The noun form most often encountered is befristete Vertrag or befristete Arbeitsstelle, referring to fixed-term agreements in employment or other legal contexts.

Origin and usage

The term derives from frist, meaning deadline or term. Prefixes such as be- indicate a state or condition related to that term. Befristung is the process or result of making an agreement time-bound. While befristeten applies broadly, it is most commonly discussed in contract and labor law, where it contrasts with unbefristet (permanent or open-ended) agreements.

Employment law

In Germany, fixed-term employment contracts are governed primarily by the Teilzeit- und Befristungsgesetz (TzBfG). A contract can be set for a limited period or for the duration of a specific task. Without an objective justification, the overall duration is typically capped at 24 months, including renewals, and the term may be extended at most a few times (commonly up to three terms in total). Justified fixed-term contracts can be used for temporary needs such as project work, substitute staffing during absence, seasonal work, or specific training positions. If the justified reason ends or the duration expires, the contract either ends or may be converted to an unbefristeter Vertrag under applicable rules.

Other contexts

Befristete arrangements also appear in tenancy law (befristeter Mietvertrag), where a lease ends automatically at a predetermined date, and in licenses, consultations, or research projects. Across contexts, the common feature is a pre-set end point, creating predictability for both parties while distinguishing from ongoing, open-ended arrangements.

See also: unbefristet, Befristung, Teilzeit- und Befristungsgesetz.