decommissioned / shut down
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decommissioned
Describes something that has been taken out of operation and is no longer used. Often refers to industrial facilities, mines, railway lines, or power plants.
Die alte Bahnstrecke nach Neustadt wurde vor zwanzig Jahren stillgelegt.
The old railway line to Neustadt was decommissioned twenty years ago.
'Stillgelegt' (decommissioned/shut down) is the past participle of the separable verb 'stilllegen' (to shut down/decommission). It is made up of 'still' (quiet, without movement) and 'legen' (to lay/put). Its literal meaning is therefore to put something to rest or take it out of operation.
Die Firma musste den alten Produktionsstandort stilllegen.
The company had to shut down the old production site.
This word is very often used in passive sentences with the verb 'werden' (to become/be) to describe the process of closing something down. It can also stand as an adjective before a noun.
Die Mine wurde letztes Jahr stillgelegt.
The mine was decommissioned last year.
In its main meaning, 'stillgelegt' (decommissioned) is often used for large technical or industrial facilities. Typical examples are: a factory, a mine, a power plant, or an airport.
Das alte Kohlekraftwerk am Fluss ist seit Jahren stillgelegt.
The old coal-fired power plant by the river has been decommissioned for years.
In a figurative sense, the word describes the stopping of processes or systems. Common collocations are: traffic, the economy, production, or public life.
Während des Sturms war der gesamte Zugverkehr stillgelegt.
During the storm, all train traffic was shut down.
closed
'geschlossen' and 'stillgelegt' can both mean that something cannot currently be used. 'geschlossen' only says that something is not open, for example a shop, a door, or an office. This may be only for a short time. 'stillgelegt' is stronger: something has been taken out of operation and is no longer supposed to function normally, for example a factory, a railway line, or a machine. In a figurative sense, an entire area can also be brought to a halt. The words are easy to confuse because both sound like 'not in operation'. 'geschlossen' is often temporary, while 'stillgelegt' sounds like an official or longer-term shutdown.
Die alte Bahnstrecke wurde vor zehn Jahren stillgelegt.
The old railway line was decommissioned ten years ago.
Der Supermarkt ist am Feiertag geschlossen.
The supermarket is closed on the public holiday.