zeitraum

Zeitraum is a German noun meaning a time period or interval between two points in time. The word is formed from Zeit (time) and Raum (space or extent), and it denotes a span of time rather than a specific moment. In everyday language it is used to describe historical, administrative, or project timeframes.

In scholarly and administrative contexts, Zeitraum marks the defined window for events, observations, or obligations. It is often contrasted with Periode, which is more common for repeating cycles or rhythmic intervals; Zeitraum emphasizes the length of time or the overall duration rather than a recurring pattern. In practice, Zeitraum is frequently paired with dates or timestamps, for example, “Der Zeitraum der Studie war von Januar bis März” or “Der Zeitraum kann verlängert werden.”

Related terms include Zeitspanne, Zeitfenster, and Dauer. The term appears in legal contracts, archival descriptions, and historical writing to specify the temporal scope of data, activities, or records. It is used across disciplines to communicate the extent of time covered by a document, project, or observation.

See also Zeitspanne, Zeitfenster, Periode.