gestufte

Gestufte is a German adjective derived from the noun Stufe (step, level) and used to describe something that is arranged in steps or levels. It denotes a structure or system in which changes occur in discrete stages rather than continuously. The term is typically used attributively before a noun, as in gestufte Preise, gestufte Skala or gestufte Bauweise, to indicate a stepped arrangement.

Usage and contexts

In economics and business, gestufte Preise refer to tiered pricing that changes at defined thresholds. In measurement and data, gestufte Skala describes a stepped or ordinal scale with distinct increments. In design, architecture, or policy, gestufte Formen or gestufte Maßnahmen convey a stepped or staged character. The expression is common in technical, scientific, and formal writing.

Synonyms and related terms

Gestufte is closely related to gestaffelt and stufig. Gestaffelt emphasizes distribution across levels or bands, while stufig highlights the presence of defined steps. For phenomena that are truly continuous, German often uses stufenlos or durchgehend rather than gestuft or gestufi.

Etymology and usage notes

The word combines Stufe with the suffix -e to form an attributive adjective. Its exact nuance depends on the noun it modifies. In many contexts, gestufte appears as part of compound terms describing a system or design divided into discrete levels or steps.

See also

Stufe, Skala, stufenlos, gestaffelt, stufig.