Unbefristete

Unbefristete is a German adjective meaning not time-limited or open-ended. It describes terms that have no fixed end date. The base form unbefristet has inflected forms such as unbefristeter, unbefristete, and unbefristetes, depending on gender and case. It is commonly used with nouns like Vertrag, Anstellung, or Mietverhältnis to indicate an indefinite arrangement.

Etymology and negation: The word is built from un- (negation) and befristet (time-limited), from Frist “deadline.” The opposite is befristet, meaning fixed-term.

Usage: Unbefristete contracts and positions are widespread in German-speaking countries. Examples include unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag (indefinite employment contract), unbefristete Stelle (permanent job), and unbefristetes Mietverhältnis (open-ended tenancy). In practice, indefinite agreements end only through negotiated termination, statutory notice, or other specified conditions, rather than by expiration.

Context: In employment law, an unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag is often the default after probation and is contrasted with befristete contracts. In tenancy law, a lease with no fixed end date continues until notice to terminate is given. In other domains, unbefristet similarly signals that the duration is not fixed.

See also: Befristet; Arbeitsvertrag; Mietvertrag; Kündigung.