release date: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral
Quick answer
What does “release date” mean?
A predetermined day on which something is made available to the public.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A predetermined day on which something is made available to the public.
The official day when a product, film, music album, software, or document is launched, published, or distributed; can also refer metaphorically to the day someone is freed from an obligation or confinement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. British English may be slightly more likely to use the near-synonym 'launch date' in business contexts, but both are fully standard.
Connotations
Neutral and factual in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in media, tech, and entertainment sectors in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “release date” in a Sentence
The [PRODUCT] has a release date of [DATE].[COMPANY] announced the release date for [PRODUCT].The release date was pushed back.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “release date” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The studio will release the film on that date.
American English
- The studio will drop the film on that date.
adverb
British English
- The album arrived release-date early.
American English
- The album arrived release-date early.
adjective
British English
- We are finalising the release-date schedule.
American English
- We are finalizing the release-date schedule.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Crucial for product lifecycle planning and marketing campaigns (e.g., 'We need to lock in the Q3 release date').
Academic
Used regarding the publication of research papers, journals, or data sets.
Everyday
Commonly discussed regarding films, video games, books, and phone updates.
Technical
Precisely defined in software development (e.g., 'The alpha release date is set for sprint 12').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “release date”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “release date”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “release date”
- Incorrect: 'the date of release' (unnatural word order). Correct: 'the release date'.
- Incorrect: 'releasing date'. Correct: 'release date' (noun compound).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun. It is sometimes hyphenated (release-date) when used attributively before another noun (e.g., 'the release-date announcement'), but the unhyphenated form is more common.
Yes, but typically in specific formal contexts, such as the scheduled date a prisoner is freed or an employee is officially terminated from a contract.
They are largely synonymous. 'Launch date' often implies a more active, event-like marketing push, while 'release date' is a broader, more neutral term. 'Release date' is more common for media (films, music), while 'launch date' is frequent for tech products and major campaigns.
A standard phrasing is: 'Could you please provide an update on the projected release date for [product/document]?' or 'I was wondering if a release date has been set for [item].'
A predetermined day on which something is made available to the public.
Release date is usually neutral in register.
Release date: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈliːs deɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈlis deɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be given a release date (from prison)”
- “To drop on the release date”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RELEASE as letting a bird go FREE; the DATE is the day it happens. A film is 'released' from the studio on its 'release date'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (The product is 'in' development until the date arrives) / COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IS A RACE (The release date is the starting line).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'release date' LEAST likely to be used?