Entzogen

Entzogen is a German past participle of the verb entziehen, meaning to withdraw, deprive, or revoke, typically by an authority. In legal and administrative language it refers to the removal of a right, license, permission, or status, or the withdrawal of material resources or benefits. The term comes from the prefix ent- with ziehen (to pull), reflecting a figurative pulling away or removal.

Usage is common in contexts such as rights, licenses, or privileges being taken away. Examples include die Aufenthaltserlaubnis wurde entzogen (the residence permit was revoked), die Fahrerlaubnis entzogen wurde (the driver’s license was revoked), dem Verein wurden Fördermittel entzogen (funding to the association was withdrawn), or ihm der Rang entzogen (his rank was stripped).

Grammatically, entzogen is the past participle used in perfect constructions with haben, and it also appears in passive voice with wurde: Die Erlaubnis wurde entzogen. Die Behörde hat ihm die Erlaubnis entzogen. In everyday language the active form is often used to describe the action taken by an agent, while the passive form emphasizes the outcome.

Notes and related terms: entzogen should not be confused with Entzug, a noun meaning withdrawal in general, notably drug withdrawal or the act of withdrawing something. Related concepts include Enteignung, which refers to expropriation or confiscation of property by the state, and entziehen as a broader family of verbs describing removal or deprivation.