backdate

[bak-deyt]

verb (used with object)

backdated, backdating 

1. to date earlier than the actual date; predate; antedate.

   Backdate the letter so he'll think I wrote it last week.

backdate

/ ˌbækˈdeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to make effective from an earlier date

   the pay rise was backdated to August

Word History and Origins

Origin of backdate¹

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; back ² + date ¹

Example Sentences

On Monday, investors began to analyze backdated federal data for broader snapshots of business conditions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The new tariff exemptions are backdated to take effect on November 13, according to the order published by the White House.

Read more on Barron's

Eve's child benefit has now been reinstated with missing payments backdated.

Read more on BBC

The sentence was backdated to the time of his arrest in Spain in May 2024.

Read more on BBC

This prompted a separate case to challenge how far back a claimant could backdate access to a pension scheme at the European Court of Justice - and this was successful.

Read more on BBC