Losstaan

Losstaan is a Dutch verb that denotes being detached or not connected to something else. It can describe physical separation—as in an object that is not fixed to a larger structure—as well as a metaphorical separation, where something is not logically or conceptually tied to another element.

In practice, losstaan is most often used with the preposition van to indicate independence or lack of relation. Common formulations include staan los van and losstaan van, meaning that something stands apart from or is unrelated to another factor, element, or context. For example, een argument kan losstaan van de rest van het rapport (an argument can stand apart from the rest of the report), or de onderdelen staan los van elkaar (the components are independent of each other). The term is widely used in both written and spoken Dutch and can appear in technical, academic, or everyday language.

Etymology traces the word to los (loose) and staan (to stand), conveying a sense of physical looseness or conceptual separation. The adjective losstaand and the noun losstaan are related forms used to describe standalone elements or detached positions, such as een losstaand gebouw (a standalone building) or een losstaande hypothese.

See also terms and concepts such as onafhankelijkheid, apart staan, en los van. In contrast to phrases meaning simply “not involved,” losstaan emphasizes a recognized separation or non-connection, whether in physical arrangement, logical reasoning, or thematic relevance.