diff --git a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/AbstractCustomMultiField.java b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/AbstractCustomMultiField.java
index 8f0fd57..7b3d5cf 100644
--- a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/AbstractCustomMultiField.java
+++ b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/AbstractCustomMultiField.java
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
         T fieldValues = (T) getPropertyDataSource().getValue();
         initFields(fieldValues);
         // Update DataSource in order to handle the fields default values
-        if (relatedFieldItem instanceof ItemAdapter && ((ItemAdapter) relatedFieldItem).isNew()) {
+        if (relatedFieldItem instanceof ItemAdapter && ((ItemAdapter) relatedFieldItem).isNew() && !this.definition.isReadOnly()) {
             getPropertyDataSource().setValue(getValue());
         }
     }
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@
             ((ConfiguredFieldDefinition) fieldDefinition).setI18nBasename(definition.getI18nBasename());
         }
         Field<?> field = fieldfactory.createField();
-
         // If the value property is not an Item but a property, set this property as datasource to the field
         // and add a value change listener in order to propagate changes
         if (!holdsItem(property)) {
@@ -209,6 +208,9 @@
             });
         }
 
+        // Set read only based on the single field definition
+        field.setReadOnly(fieldDefinition.isReadOnly());
+
         return field;
     }
 
diff --git a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/CompositeField.java b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/CompositeField.java
index 42fb9e9..af25568 100644
--- a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/CompositeField.java
+++ b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/CompositeField.java
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@
     protected void initFields(PropertysetItem fieldValues) {
         root.removeAllComponents();
         for (ConfiguredFieldDefinition fieldDefinition : definition.getFields()) {
+            // Only propagate read only if the parent definition is read only
+            if (definition.isReadOnly()) {
+                fieldDefinition.setReadOnly(definition.isReadOnly());
+            }
             Field<?> field = createLocalField(fieldDefinition, fieldValues.getItemProperty(fieldDefinition.getName()), false);
             if (fieldValues.getItemProperty(fieldDefinition.getName()) == null) {
                 fieldValues.addItemProperty(fieldDefinition.getName(), field.getPropertyDataSource());
diff --git a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/MultiField.java b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/MultiField.java
index d5cb14b..d4f724d 100644
--- a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/MultiField.java
+++ b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/MultiField.java
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@
     public MultiField(MultiValueFieldDefinition definition, FieldFactoryFactory fieldFactoryFactory, ComponentProvider componentProvider, Item relatedFieldItem, I18NAuthoringSupport i18nAuthoringSupport) {
         super(definition, fieldFactoryFactory, componentProvider, relatedFieldItem, i18nAuthoringSupport);
         this.fieldDefinition = definition.getField();
+        // Only propagate read only if the parent definition is read only
+        if (definition.isReadOnly()) {
+            fieldDefinition.setReadOnly(definition.isReadOnly());
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -129,6 +133,7 @@
                 }
 
                 root.addComponent(createEntryComponent(newPropertyId, property), root.getComponentCount() - 1);
+
             };
         });
 
@@ -151,7 +156,9 @@
             Property<?> property = newValue.getItemProperty(propertyId);
             root.addComponent(createEntryComponent(propertyId, property));
         }
-        root.addComponent(addButton);
+        if (!this.definition.isReadOnly()) {
+            root.addComponent(addButton);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -175,6 +182,14 @@
             ((PropertysetItem) getPropertyDataSource().getValue()).addItemProperty(propertyId, property);
         }
         final Property<?> propertyReference = property;
+        // set layout to full width
+        layout.setWidth(100, Unit.PERCENTAGE);
+
+        // distribute space in favour of field over delete button
+        layout.setExpandRatio(field, 1);
+        if (definition.isReadOnly()) {
+            return layout;
+        }
 
         // Delete Button
         Button deleteButton = new Button();
@@ -206,12 +221,6 @@
             }
         });
         layout.addComponent(deleteButton);
-
-        // set layout to full width
-        layout.setWidth(100, Unit.PERCENTAGE);
-
-        // distribute space in favour of field over delete button
-        layout.setExpandRatio(field, 1);
         layout.setExpandRatio(deleteButton, 0);
 
         // make sure button stays aligned with the field and not with the optional field label when used
@@ -219,7 +228,6 @@
 
         return layout;
     }
-
 
     @Override
     public Class<? extends PropertysetItem> getType() {
@@ -252,7 +260,7 @@
         }
         while (fromIndex < valuesSize) {
             toIndex = fromIndex;
-            fromIndex +=1;
+            fromIndex += 1;
             getValue().addItemProperty(toIndex, getValue().getItemProperty(fromIndex));
             getValue().removeItemProperty(fromIndex);
         }
diff --git a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/SwitchableField.java b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/SwitchableField.java
index de6a8e7..6ba88c1 100644
--- a/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/SwitchableField.java
+++ b/magnolia-ui-form/src/main/java/info/magnolia/ui/form/field/SwitchableField.java
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@
         // Create all Fields including the select Field.
         for (ConfiguredFieldDefinition fieldDefinition : definition.getFields()) {
             String name = fieldDefinition.getName();
+            // Only propagate read only if the parent definition is read only
+            if (definition.isReadOnly()) {
+                fieldDefinition.setReadOnly(definition.isReadOnly());
+            }
             Field<?> field = createLocalField(fieldDefinition, fieldValues.getItemProperty(fieldDefinition.getName()), false);
             // Do not add hidden field.
             if (!field.isVisible()) {