Wikiachtig

Wikiachtig is an informal German neologism used to describe content, projects, or workflows that resemble a wiki in their openness and collaborative nature. It is not an official term and has no formal definition.

Etymology: The word combines Wiki with the German suffix -achtig, forming a descriptor meaning “wiki-like.” It emerged in online communities as a playful way to label initiatives that adopt wiki-style collaboration and editing practices.

Characteristics and usage: A wikiachtig page or project typically allows broad editing rights, maintains a visible revision history, invites community input, and relies on cited sources or references. The label can function descriptively or critically, indicating that governance and quality control resemble wiki norms, or, in some cases, that there is perceived over- or under-regulation of edits. It can apply to online articles, knowledge bases, or organizational processes that mimic wiki dynamics.

Limitations and scope: Because it is informal, its meaning varies with context. It should not be equated with the formal policies of established wikis; the term often ranges from light crowd-editing to more robust open collaboration. In standard German, alternatives include wiki-ähnlich or wikiartig, but wikiachtig emphasizes the overall wiki-like character rather than a strict policy framework.

See also: wiki, collaborative editing, crowdsourcing, open knowledge bases.