What does misdate mean?
To misdate is to assign the wrong calendar date to a person, object, event, or record. The word is especially common in historical and editorial work, where a document, inscription, specimen, or catalogue entry may bear a date that conflicts with other evidence. It can also describe technical errors in systems that timestamp records. The term normally implies an error in the date assigned, not a false claim about an event's age unless that false date is written or recorded. In “The editor misdated the photograph as 1898,” the subject receives an incorrect label. Misdate is less common than date and is typically used when the discrepancy is being corrected. It is especially useful in contexts where precision matters and an apparently small chronological error can alter interpretation. The prefix mis- clearly signals the error, while the verb's relatively formal register gives it an editorial, scholarly, or documentary flavour.
verbTo assign an incorrect date to a document, object, event, record, or catalogue entry. It is especially used when the date conflicts with historical evidence or other information.
- To assign the wrong date to something, especially a document, record, inscription, specimen, or catalogue entry.
"The catalogue misdated the manuscript by several centuries."
"The catalogue misdated the manuscript by several centuries."
"A software error misdated every invoice issued on the first of the month."
A painting can be old, authentic, and still carry the wrong year.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does misdate come from?
Misdate was formed in English by combining the prefix mis-, meaning “wrongly” or “incorrectly,” with date. Date itself comes through Old French from Latin datum, a participial form meaning “given” and ultimately related to Latin dare, “to give.” The compound continues the English tradition of using mis- to identify an incorrect version or instance of something, as in mismatch and misrepresent.
Related word forms
How misdate is actually used
Misdate is a relatively uncommon, usually transitive verb with a formal editorial or documentary tone. It refers to assigning the wrong calendar date, rather than merely giving the wrong age to an object or assessing how long something takes.
Easily confused with misdate
To misdate is to assign the wrong calendar date, whereas to mistime is to perform, schedule, or judge something at the wrong time.