Peer-Review
In German, peer review is called Peer-Review. Wiktionary also lists Kreuzgutachten.
Meaning: scholarly process (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Peer-Review | |
| Kreuzgutachten | neuter |
The term refers to the scholarly process. In German academic and scientific contexts, the anglicism Peer-Review is the standard term used to describe this process.
Which one should you use?
While Peer-Review is the common loanword, Kreuzgutachten is a more traditional German term used to describe the process of experts reviewing each other's work.
How does it change in a sentence?
Peer-Review is a neuter noun, used with the article das (e.g., das Peer-Review). The plural form is Peer-Reviews. The term Kreuzgutachten is also neuter.
Did you know?
- While Peer-Review is standard in science, the German concept of Gutachten is so rigorous that it is used for legally binding expert reports in court, making the process feel more like a legal verdict than a suggestion.
- In German academia, using the English term Peer-Review often signals that a researcher is aligned with international standards, whereas Kreuzgutachten may feel rooted in traditional German institutional bureaucracy.
- The traditional term Kreuzgutachten literally translates to 'cross-expert-opinion', where 'Kreuz' means 'cross'.
Examples in context
- Die Veröffentlichung durchlief ein strenges Fachgutachten, bevor sie akzeptiert wurde.The publication underwent a rigorous peer review before being accepted.
- Das Begutachtungsverfahren stellt sicher, dass nur qualitativ hochwertige Arbeiten veröffentlicht werden.The peer review process ensures that only high-quality work is published.
- Die Wirksamkeit dieser Methode wurde durch eine Kollegenbewertung bestätigt.The effectiveness of this method was confirmed through peer evaluation.
- Sie bereitet gerade das Peer-Review vor.She is currently preparing the peer review.
Example conversation
Two researchers are discussing a journal submission.
- LauraHat das Journal das Peer-Review schon beendet?Has the journal finished the peer review yet?
- JulianNein, Julian wartet noch auf die Kommentare.No, Julian is still waiting for the comments.
- LauraWar das Peer-Review diesmal sehr streng?Was the peer review very strict this time?
- JulianJa, die Gutachter waren sehr kritisch.Yes, the reviewers were very critical.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peer review” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
