degroep

Degroep is not a standard Dutch word. In normal Dutch, the definite article de combines with the noun groep, meaning "the group," as a two-word expression: de groep. The single-word form degroep does not appear in standard dictionaries and is rarely used in formal writing. When degroep appears, it is usually either a typographical error for de groep or a deliberate stylization used as a proper noun, such as a brand name or fictional title.

Usage and meaning: For ordinary references to a grouping of people or objects, use de groep. The head noun groep can be prefixed by numerals or adjectives: een grote groep studenten, de eerste groep. There is no separate lexical meaning attached to degroep outside such contexts.

Orthography and interpretation: Dutch compound nouns can be written as open (two words), closed (one word), or hyphenated; degroep, though, is not the standard closed form for this noun. In editorial practice, encountering degroep should trigger a check against the source and the context to determine if it is a typo, a stylized brand, or a named entity.

See also: groep, de groep; groeperen; groeplid.