What does postdating mean?
Postdating means dating something later than the present, giving a document, payment instrument, or other item a future date, and it can also mean occurring after another event in chronological order. The most familiar use is postdating a cheque: the cheque may be written today but is intended to become payable on a specified future day. The word can also describe chronology, as in saying that a manuscript postdates a particular historical period. Its connotations vary by context. Future-dating a cheque may be a routine financial arrangement, although it can create risk if funds are unavailable when payment is due. In historical discussion, postdating is usually neutral and means that something appeared, occurred, or was composed after a stated date. The related verb postdate is somewhat more common as a standalone form, while postdating is particularly frequent when describing documents, payments, or a relationship in time.
To assign a date later than the current or originally intended date, or to occur after another event.
"The company postdated the invoice until the end of the month."
The word is especially common in financial and administrative contexts involving cheques, invoices, and documents.
Occurring after another event, or bearing a date later than the current or originally specified date.
"The postdated payment was not processed until the following week."
This is a participial use of the verb and is particularly common with payment instruments and official documents.
A postdated cheque promises payment tomorrow, but it was signed today — turning a cheque into a small piece of optimism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does postdating come from?
Postdating was formed in English from the prefix post-, meaning “after,” and the verb date. The prefix comes from Latin post, while date derives through French from Latin datare, meaning “to give” or “to assign,” ultimately from the Latin participle datum, “given.” The combination developed in the 19th century, initially describing the assignment of a later date and later also expressing a later chronological position.
Related word forms
How postdating is actually used
The form is most often used as the present participle of postdate. In financial contexts, especially in American English, it is commonly used with cheques, while the general verb is also used with documents and events. It is distinct from postpone, which means to defer an event rather than to give something a later date.
Easily confused with postdating
Postdating means to come after or be assigned a later date, whereas predating means to come before or precede something else.
Postdating assigns a later date to a document or event, while postponing means to defer an event or action.