Antidate

To assign a date to something (such as a document) that is earlier than the actual date of creation or occurrence. This act often implies a deliberate effort to give an inaccurate impression of when something happened, potentially for legal or strategic purposes. Antidating is often used in legal contexts to create a false sense of priority or validity. It can also be used in business or personal affairs, but it’s nearly always considered unethical and often illegal depending on the context.

Antidate meaning with examples

• The contract was antidated to appear as though it had been in effect before the crucial regulatory change, a move that could grant them an unfair competitive advantage. This action sparked an investigation as it was seen as a violation of fair business practices.
• Fraudulently, the collector antidated the art piece's certificate of authenticity to increase its perceived age and consequently, inflate its market value. This deception aimed to deceive potential buyers who are often keen on antique artifacts.
• The company attempted to antidate its financial reports to hide the fact that the company was in financial trouble, and conceal the losses to investors. This illegal action of financial fraud caused the company to lose credibility.
• Knowing that the copyright was about to expire, the writer tried to antidate the publication date of her new book to extend its protection. However, the attempt was unsuccessful due to the use of sophisticated tracking systems.