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backdate

UK/bækˈdeɪt/US/ˈbæk.deɪt/

verb

To give or assign a date to a document that is earlier than the current or true date.

Similar

antedate foredate predate

Opposite

RareScrabble 17

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Meanings

verbbackdate (third-person singular simple present backdates, present participle backdating, simple past and past participle backdated)

present singular third person backdates · participle present backdating · participle past backdated · past backdated · alternative back-date · alternative back date

To give or assign a date to a document that is earlier than the current or true date.
Synonyms: antedate, antedate, foredate, predate

nounbackdate (plural backdates)

plural backdates · alternative back-date · alternative back date

An assigned date that is earlier than the current or true date.
The backdates on the clearance forms made the little man's papers worthless […]
2000, Jack Stewart, Hurricane, page 50

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo give or assign a date to a document that is earlier than the current or true date.

Similar

antedate antedate foredate predate

Opposite

Also see

antedate foredate predate

Origin

From back + date.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with backdate

date state great rate create update weight late certificate wait eight straight plate chocolate debate hate gate donate evaluate locate kate alternate translate mate

Cite this entry

APA

backdate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backdate

MLA

“backdate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backdate. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backdate,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backdate.

Source: backdate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.