To assign a date to a document, event, or process that is later than its actual or appropriate date. This can occur intentionally, for purposes of deception or strategic advantage, or unintentionally, due to error or oversight. Overdating can have legal, financial, or social ramifications depending on the context. It implies a manipulation of temporal information, often to create a false impression of timeliness or relevance. The practice is frequently associated with record-keeping, contracts, and historical accounts, where the accuracy of dates is paramount.
Overdate meaning with examples
- The investigator suspected the contract had been overdated to mislead investors about the company's financial stability, claiming it was in place before market downturns. The subtle manipulation of the date provided an illusion of risk mitigation and pre-existing commitment, hiding potential liabilities that would've become apparent otherwise, which led to significant legal proceedings.
- To receive the special offer, the clerk tried to overdate the application form. If this succeeds, it's a clear demonstration of deceptive tactics to exploit promotional loopholes, demonstrating deliberate disregard for existing guidelines.
- Historians argued the official documents used for propaganda were likely overdated. These inaccuracies serve as an example for rewriting and distorting the past to match current political narratives. The manipulation of these records was very clear when reviewed.
- Her lawyer argued that the postmark of the complaint was overdated, rendering the lawsuit invalid due to exceeding the statute of limitations, thus, making the action inadmissible in court.