Gängig

Gängig is a German adjective with two main meanings. In the common usage, it describes something that is standard, widely used, or officially accepted in a field, such as practices, terms, methods, or devices. In a second sense, gängig can mean that something is functioning or operational, i.e., in working order.

The first sense is the most frequent in professional and academic contexts. Phrases like gängige Praxis, gängige Bezeichnung, or gängige Methoden refer to practices, terms, or techniques that are conventional or widely adopted. In this sense, gängig signals conformity with established norms rather than novelty or exception. Examples: eine gängige Lösung, eine gängige Terminologie, das gängige Verfahren.

The second sense, more common in technical or mechanical contexts, describes something that works properly or can be used. Thus, ein gängiges System or eine gängige Vorrichtung can mean that the system is operable and not defective. This usage is typically found in engineering, maintenance, and similar fields.

Etymologically, gängig derives from the noun Gang (course, path, way) with the adjectival suffix -ig, conveying the sense of being in the usual or proper state. Synonyms include üblich, verbreitet, standard, and konventionell; antonyms are unüblich, ungewöhnlich, selten. The term is neutral to formal and is common in written German across German-speaking regions.

See also: Gängigkeit, gängig machen.