Etablierte

Etablierte is a German term used as both an adjective and, when capitalized as a noun, as a designation for a group. As an adjective, etablierte describes something that is established, well-known, or firmly rooted, and it agrees with gender and number: ein etabliertes Unternehmen, eine etablierte Institution, etablierte Marken. In plural, ohne Artikel it appears as etablierte Marken; with a definite article one would typically say die etablierten Marken.

As a noun, die Etablierten refers to the established people or institutions within a society or a sector. This usage is common in sociopolitical or cultural discussions to denote the status quo or the traditional power holders, sometimes with a critical connotation. For example, one might speak of den Einfluss der Etablierten in Politik und Wirtschaft.

Etymology and relation to other terms: etymologically, etablieren comes from the French établir, further back to Latin stabilire, meaning to set up or stabilize. The form etablierte is the feminine singular or plural form used in German grammar for adjectives, while die Etablierten as a noun denotes a capitalized plural group.

Usage and nuance: the term is largely neutral when describing characteristics (a long-established company), but in political or cultural discourse it can carry evaluative undertones, contrasting the Etablierten with challengers or reformers. It is related to, but distinct from, the English term Establishment, which is more directly borrowed in many German texts.

In summary, etablierte serves as a versatile descriptor for enduring status, and die Etablierten encapsulates the idea of a recognized, often influential, group within society.