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Synonyms

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 obsolete; old-fashioned; out-of-date.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

belated British  
/ bɪˈleɪtɪd /

adjective

  1. late or too late

    belated greetings
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • belatedly adverb
  • belatedness noun

Etymology

Origin of belated

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

Explanation

Something belated comes after the fact. If you are late to deliver a birthday greeting, then make it a "happy belated birthday" card. Belated Christmas gifts come after December 25. Belated birthday greetings are still sweet, but a belated New Year's Eve party? Sort of pointless. Belated can refer to less effective actions when used in more significant settings — consider "a belated push to secure tax breaks for the working poor" or "a belated apology for indiscretions committed during the senator's scandalous college years."

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Vocabulary lists containing belated

Dear Martin

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“When writing belated wedding thank-you cards, be sure to focus your message on how much you appreciate the thoughtfulness of their gift and their presence at your celebration,” the Knot adds.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Making belated history by headlining Coachella would seem far removed from those concerns.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

A belated recusal would be better than no recusal.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2026

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 • Feb. 25, 2026

At 8:23 and twenty seconds, King Lotharon made his somewhat belated entrance to the dinner.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.