festlegen

Festlegen is a German verb meaning to determine, fix, or set something in a definite way. It is used when a decision, date, term, or guideline is established, often with binding implications. The action implies finalizing specifics rather than merely considering options. In English, festlegen is typically translated as to set, to determine, to fix, or to establish.

Grammatically, festlegen is a separable verb. In a main clause the prefix separates: Wir legen den Termin fest. The past participle is festgelegt, and present tense forms include ich lege fest, du legst fest, er legt fest. The imperative forms are Leg fest! or Legen Sie fest! The noun forms include die Festlegung or, less commonly, das Festlegen, both referring to the act of setting or the resulting decision.

Common usages span various domains. Termine festlegen (to set a date), Preise festlegen (to determine prices), Kriterien festlegen (to define criteria), and Richtlinien festlegen (to establish guidelines). In legal or organizational contexts, festlegen can convey binding specification, whereas similar verbs such as festsetzen emphasize official or statutory fixing, and bestimmen highlights the act of deciding or designating. Related expressions include eine Frist festlegen (to set a deadline) and den Rahmen festlegen (to establish the framework).

The term also yields the noun Festlegung, meaning the act of setting or the resulting determination. The concept appears in administration, business planning, law, and project management, where clear Festlegung of terms and dates is essential for coordination and accountability.