Eingeleitet

Eingeleitet is the past participle of the German verb einleiten. It means that something has been initiated, started, or opened and is used to describe processes, procedures, or events that have begun. Common contexts include administrative actions, investigations, negotiations, and debates, where a procedure or discussion has been put into motion.

In terms of grammar, eingeleitet can be used in several ways. In active voice with perfect tense, it appears as hat eingeleitet: Die Behörde hat das Verfahren eingeleitet. In passive constructions, it appears with werden: Das Verfahren wurde eingeleitet. As a participial adjective before a noun, it can describe a noun phrase: eingeleitete Maßnahmen, eingeleitete Verhandlungen.

Etymologically, eingeleitet comes from the prefix ein- (into, in) and leiten (to lead, guide). The combination conveys the notion of leading something into a new state or into operation. The word is neutral and formal, and is common in official, legal, and administrative language as well as in journalism.

Synonyms include initiieren (more technical or modern), beginnen, eröffnen, and einleiten itself in various contexts. The choice depends on nuance: eingeleitet emphasizes that a formal process or action has been set in motion; eröffnen or beginnen may highlight the moment of initiation more generally.

See also: einleiten, Prozess, Verfahren, Untersuchung, Debatte, Maßnahme, Verwaltung.