released / optional
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released from duties
Describes a person who has been released from their professional duties, often while continuing to be paid, for example after being dismissed.
Nach Bekanntgabe des Wechsels wurde der Trainer mit sofortiger Wirkung freigestellt.
After the change was announced, the coach was released from his duties with immediate effect.
to be optional
Means that someone has the free choice or decision to do something; it is optional.
Es ist Ihnen freigestellt, ob Sie das Angebot annehmen oder nicht.
It is up to you whether you accept the offer or not.
cut out
In photography or graphic design: describes an object or person that has been digitally isolated from the original background.
Für die Webseite benötigen wir ein freigestelltes Porträtfoto der Geschäftsführerin.
For the website, we need a cut-out portrait photo of the managing director.
'Freigestellt' is the past participle of the separable verb 'freistellen'. It is made up of 'frei' (free) and 'stellen' (to put/place). The participle form is 'frei-ge-stellt', which shows that it comes from a separable verb.
Der Arbeitgeber muss den Mitarbeiter für die Fortbildung freistellen.
The employer has to release the employee for the training course.
In the meaning 'to have the choice', a fixed structure is used: 'Es ist jemandem freigestellt, etwas zu tun' (someone is free to do something / it is up to someone to do something). The person who has the choice is always in the dative.
Es ist Ihnen freigestellt, ob Sie bar oder mit Karte zahlen.
It is up to you whether you pay in cash or by card.
This meaning is used almost exclusively in a professional context. It describes the situation when an employee no longer has to come to work but continues to receive their salary, often after being dismissed.
Der Manager wurde bis zum Ende seiner Vertragslaufzeit freigestellt.
The manager was released from his duties until the end of his contract term.
In this meaning, 'freigestellt' is a technical term from photography and graphic design. It describes an image in which the main subject has been separated from the background.
Das freigestellte Produktfoto kann nun auf der Webseite platziert werden.
The cut-out product photo can now be placed on the website.
As a participle, 'freigestellt' is often used with the auxiliary verbs 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become / to be). 'Wird freigestellt' describes the process (process passive), while 'ist freigestellt' describes the result or state (stative passive).
Der Mitarbeiter wird ab morgen freigestellt.
The employee will be released from his duties starting tomorrow.
to dismiss / discharge
After a termination notice, entlassen and freigestellt can explain why someone is no longer working. Entlassen refers to the end of the employment relationship; freigestellt initially means only that the obligation to work has been lifted, often while pay continues. Use entlassen for the end of the employment and freigestellt for the period without a work obligation.
Die Firma stellte die Mitarbeiterin bis zum Ende ihrer Kündigungsfrist frei.
The company released the employee from her duties until the end of her notice period.
Die Firma entließ die Mitarbeiterin nach Ablauf ihrer Kündigungsfrist.
The company dismissed the employee after her notice period ended.
