vorausgesetzt

Vorausgesetzt is a German past participle of the verb voraussetzen, meaning “to presuppose” or “to assume beforehand.” In modern use it functions as a fixed expression that introduces a condition, translating roughly as “provided that” or “assuming that” in English. It is common in formal writing, negotiations, and technical or legal contexts.

Typical constructions include "Vorausgesetzt, dass..." followed by a clause, e.g., "Vorausgesetzt, dass alle Teilnehmenden erscheinen, beginnt der Kurs um neun." The phrase can also appear as "unter der Voraussetzung, dass..." or as a preposed conditional phrase at the beginning of a sentence. It sets a premise, with the main clause presenting the consequence.

Grammatically, vorausgesetzt is a participial construction rather than a finite verb. It does not inflect for person or number. In sentence syntax, it is followed by "dass" or by a noun phrase in extended forms, and a comma typically precedes the dependent clause. It can also function in adjectival form, as in "eine vorausgesetzte Bedingung" or "eine vorausgesetzte Annahme," though more common alternatives use the noun "Voraussetzung."

Translations and relationship to related terms: common equivalents are "provided that," "on the condition that," and "assuming that." It should not be confused with the noun "Voraussetzung," which means “condition” or “assumption” in general. Etymologically, it stems from the idea of setting or presupposing something beforehand, combining the prefix vor- with setzen.