backdate

verb

back·​date ˈbak-ˌdāt How to pronounce backdate (audio)
backdated; backdating; backdates

transitive verb

: to put a date earlier than the actual one on
backdate a memo
also : to make retroactive
backdate pension rights

Examples of backdate in a Sentence

an increase in salary backdated to the beginning of the year
Recent Examples on the Web But a central office employee backdated the change to June 26, a day before Beidleman’s promotion and two days before the OIGE reached out, the report’s authors write. Nicole Asbury, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023 While Richardson’s suspension, which backdated to June 28, ended before the women’s 100 meters heats started July 30 in Tokyo, the test result disqualified her trials performance and U.S. team selection. Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 6 July 2023 Where backdating can be proven, however, all this gets turned on its head. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2023 The caveat holder then had three months to put together a full application, which, although filed later than its rival, would be backdated to match the original caveat. Nat Segnit, Harper's Magazine, 4 Mar. 2022 In November 2019, The Reporter published an article in which a lawyer for one of the teenagers claimed that county officials had backdated a document in his client’s case. Emily Flitter, BostonGlobe.com, 18 June 2023 Because Fraley pinch-hit Wednesday, the Reds can wait until Sunday for a move and still get full advantage of the maximum three days to backdate an IL stint. Gordon Wittenmyer, The Enquirer, 10 June 2023 Cousins' is backdated to June 4. Jason Alexander to make rehab start Right-hander Jason Alexander, who did yeoman's work in making 11 starts for the Brewers last year but hasn't pitched this year with a shoulder issue, was slated to make a start Friday night with the Arizona Complex League team. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 9 June 2023 Richard Hopkins' claim that a postmaster in Erie, Pa., instructed postal workers to backdate ballots mailed after Election Day was cited by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) in a letter to the Justice Department calling for a federal investigation. Shawn Boburg and Jacob Bogage Washington Post, Star Tribune, 10 Nov. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backdate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backdate was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near backdate

Cite this Entry

“Backdate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdate. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!