foredate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Literary, Technical/Legal
Quick answer
What does “foredate” mean?
To date (a document, event, or action) with a date earlier than the actual date.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To date (a document, event, or action) with a date earlier than the actual date.
To precede or antedate; to assign an earlier chronological position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Antedate' is overwhelmingly preferred in both varieties.
Connotations
In legal/contractual contexts in both regions, 'foredate' can carry a slight connotation of potential misconduct or backdating.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American English, appearing mostly in historical or highly formal/legal texts. 'Antedate' is the standard term.
Grammar
How to Use “foredate” in a Sentence
[Subject] foredates [Object (document/event)][Subject] foredates [Object] as [Date]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foredate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The solicitor warned the client not to foredate the contract.
- It was discovered they had foredated the letter by a full week.
American English
- To foredate a check is illegal in most jurisdictions.
- The historian argued the treaty was foredated to bolster the king's claim.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used in the context of backdating contracts or invoices, often with legal implications.
Academic
Very rare, mostly in historical analysis discussing the dating of manuscripts or events.
Everyday
Effectively non-existent. An average speaker would use 'backdate' or 'antedate'.
Technical
Limited to specific legal or archival contexts discussing the chronology of documents.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foredate”
- Using 'foredate' to mean 'predict a future date' (confusion with 'forecast' or 'foresee').
- Using it in everyday speech where 'backdate' is perfectly clear.
- Misspelling as 'fordate' or 'fourdate'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare. The word 'antedate' or 'backdate' should be used in almost all situations.
'Foredate' means to assign an earlier date (past), while 'postdate' means to assign a later date (future).
No, this is a common error. 'Foreschedule' or simply 'schedule in advance' would be correct. 'Foredate' specifically refers to assigning a date *earlier* than the true date.
You might find it in older legal texts, historical academic papers discussing document authenticity, or very formal writing. In modern usage, it is an archaism.
To date (a document, event, or action) with a date earlier than the actual date.
Foredate is usually formal, literary, technical/legal in register.
Foredate: in British English it is pronounced /fɔːˈdeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɔːrˈdeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think FORE = before + DATE. To put a date from BEFORE the real one.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME AS A LINEAR PATH (placing something further back on the path).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common and recommended synonym for 'foredate'?