ingevolge

Ingevolge is a Dutch preposition and, in formal texts, a conjunction meaning “in accordance with,” “pursuant to,” or “as provided by.” It is most common in legal, administrative, and official writing to indicate that a rule, decision, or obligation is being followed or applied.

There are two related usages. One-word spelling: ingevolge, used before a noun phrase to refer to a rule or directive, as in ingevolge de wet or ingevolge artikel 5. Two- or three-word form: in gevolge van, which means “as a result of” or “due to,” as in in gevolge van de storm werd het evenement afgelast. In modern practice, the two-word form is more common when expressing causality in everyday language; ingevolge tends to appear in formal or legal contexts and is sometimes considered old-fashioned.

Etymology and register: the term derives from in plus gevolg (consequence), literally “in consequence.” The fused form ingevolge emphasizes compliance with an external rule or instruction; in gevolge van emphasizes causal connection. Due to its formal tone, ingevolge is frequently replaced by synonyms such as in overeenstemming met, conformeren aan, or als gevolg van in contemporary writing.

Examples: ingevolge de bepalingen van de wet geldt dit besluit vanaf vandaag; in gevolge de storm werd het festival geannuleerd. See also: conform, overeenkomstig, als gevolg van.