retrodate
|re-tro-date|
/ˌrɛtrəˈdeɪt/
assign an earlier date
Etymology
'retrodate' originates from modern English, specifically formed by combining the Latin prefix 'retro-' and the word 'date' (ultimately from Latin 'datum'), where 'retro-' meant 'back(wards)' and Latin 'datum' meant 'something given'.
'retrodate' was created in English by attaching the Latin combining form 'retro-' (meaning 'back') to the existing word 'date' (from Old French 'date', from Latin 'datum'), producing a verb meaning 'to make dated earlier'.
Initially, the formation meant 'to give a date that is back (earlier),' and over time it has remained focused on assigning or regarding an earlier date (i.e., backdating).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a date that has been assigned to something so that it appears to have occurred earlier than it actually did; an assigned earlier date.
The retrodate on the certificate was January 1, although the event occurred later.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/03 21:02