Nichtständige

Nichtständige is a German term that literally means non-permanent or non-stationary. It is formed from nicht (not) and ständige (permanent, fixed) and can function as a noun phrase in various contexts or as an adjective in descriptive phrases. The word is not a widely standardized technical term, but it appears in some scholarly, historical, and legal texts to denote populations or conditions lacking fixed permanence.

In usage, Nichtständige generally refers to beings or groups without a fixed residence, status, or long-term commitment in a given location. In sociology, urban studies, and migration research, the term has been employed to describe mobile or temporary populations—such as seasonal workers, itinerant laborers, or people with temporary housing or permits—where residence or employment is not permanently settled. In historical documents, the category has appeared in municipal or bureaucratic reports to distinguish non-fixed residents from those with permanent settlement.

Legal and administrative contexts may also invoke the notion of Nichtständige to discuss rights, benefits, or obligations that apply differently to people without fixed residence compared with permanent residents. However, usage is highly context-dependent and not uniform across jurisdictions or time periods.

Related concepts include sesshaftigkeit (settledness), temporäre or vorübergehende (temporary), and the broader study of migration and urban mobility. Because Nichtständige is not a standardized term, readers should rely on the specific source’s definition when encountered.