aufgerüstet

Aufgerüstet is the past participle and adjective form of the German verb aufrüsten, meaning to upgrade, to arm, or to bolster with additional equipment or capabilities. Used attributively or predicatively, it describes something that has received a modernization or enhancement beyond routine maintenance, often implying increased performance, resilience, or capacity. The term is closely linked to the noun Aufrüstung (armament or modernization) and to the root rüsten (to equip or arm).

Usage and nuance: Aufgerüstet denotes a deliberate, substantial improvement rather than minor updates. It can describe military, industrial, or civilian contexts. Examples include eine aufgerüstete Armee (an upgraded army), aufgerüstete Verteidigungssysteme (enhanced defense systems), or eine aufgerüstete Computerinfrastruktur (upgraded IT infrastructure). In everyday language it may appear in phrases like das Fahrzeug ist aufgerüstet, meaning the vehicle has been outfitted with additional features. The term contrasts with ausgerüstet, which simply means equipped, without the implicit emphasis on modernization.

Etymology: The prefix auf- combined with rüsten yields aufrüsten. The participle formaufgerüstet serves as an adjective to describe the result of upgrading actions.

See also: Aufrüstung, Ausrüstung, Rüsten, Modernisierung.