backdate v 1: make effective from an earlier date; "The increase in tax was backdated to January"
backdate \back"date\ v. t. 1. to make effective from an earlier date; to make retroactive. The increase in tax was backdated to January. Syn: back-date [WordNet 1.5] 2. to affix a date earlier than the present date; -- sometimes done for fraudulent purposes. Opposite of {postdate}. Syn: back-date; predate; antedate. [PJC] Note: Backdate is sometimes used incorrectly for postdate.