German word

Alleingang

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈlaɪ̯nˌgaŋ/

Meaning

  • masculine noungoing it alone

Example

Manchmal ist ein Alleingang die beste Lösung.

Sometimes going it alone is the best solution.

Illustration for Alleingang (going it alone)

More examples

Im Team führt ein Alleingang oft zu Misstrauen.

In a team, going it alone often leads to mistrust.

Core concept

A person or group chooses and follows its own course without checking with the others involved.

Common phrases

  • zum Alleingang greifen

    resort to going it alone

  • einen Alleingang starten

    launch an independent action

  • isolierter Alleingang

    isolated solo effort

Similar words

Einzelentscheidung: A decision reached by a single person.

Definition in German

Alleingang bezeichnet das eigenständige Handeln einer Person oder Gruppe ohne vorherige Rücksprache.

Word origin

Alleingang combines allein, meaning 'alone', with Gang, a noun related to gehen, 'to go', and originally evokes going alone.

Usage tips

  • Alleingang is masculine, with the plural Alleingänge; its umlaut changes only the plural vowel.

Other meanings

  • unilateral actionnoun
  • independent actionnoun

Opposites

  • Kooperationcooperationnoun
  • Gemeinschaftsentscheidungjoint decisionnoun

Related words

  • Alleingängerlone operatornoun

Word lists with this word