belated

American  

[bih-ley-tid] / bɪˈleɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. coming or being after the customary, useful, or expected time.

   belated birthday greetings.

2. late, delayed, or detained.

   We started the meeting without the belated representative.

3. Archaic. obsolete; old-fashioned; out-of-date.

   a belated view of world politics.

4. Archaic. overtaken by darkness or night.

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belated British  

/ bɪˈleɪtɪd /

adjective

1. late or too late

   belated greetings

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Other Word Forms

• belatedly adverb
• belatedness noun

Etymology

Origin of belated

First recorded in 1610–20; belate “to delay” ( be- + late ) + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Their grief and fury set in motion the countervailing force of justice that, no matter how belated, cannot be denied.

From Los Angeles Times

The Indian government’s decision to upgrade its fighter jet fleet may signal its belated recognition of the scale of the threats it faces.

From The Wall Street Journal

The unwaveringly consistent Ulster back row scored his side's first points of the game and led the belated charge at France.

From BBC

He was then commissioned to write book reviews, and his belated career as a writer was underway.

From BBC

Mojica planned a belated coming out talk at dinner the night before; the discussion never happened.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delayed
• long-delayed
• overdue
• tardy