afgeslagen

Afgeslagen is a Dutch word that is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate that something has been rejected, cancelled, or dismissed. It is the past participle of the verb afleggen, which literally means “to take off” or “to lay aside.” In modern Dutch, afleggen can also mean “to give up,” “to fail,” or “to fail an exam,” and the past participle affixes the sense of negation or failure to the action.

The term is frequently seen in legal, administrative, and everyday speech. For example, a job application may be “afgeslagen” if the employer decides not to proceed, or a court ruling may be “afgeslagen” when a judge finds a case without merit. In everyday usage, K. might say, “Mijn verzoek is afgeschreven,” meaning “My request was rejected.” The word also appears in instructions or guidelines: “Het verzoek is afgeleend en dus niet meer in behandeling.” In the realm of sports, a player’s request to join a club may be dismissed, and the club staff might inform the player that the request has been “afgeslagen.”

In English it can be loosely translated as “rejected,” “dismissed,” or “canceled.” Synonyms in Dutch include geweigerd, afgeworpen, en verzoegd. The word remains a staple in Dutch vocabulary, often highlighted in news items and official announcements when a proposal or petition fails to gain approval.