due date

/djuː deɪt/
noun phraseIntermediate
💼Business
formal

The date by which something is expected to be completed or delivered, or the date on which a payment or action is required.

The project's due date is next Friday.

The invoice has a due date of the 15th.

💡

Often used in professional and financial contexts.

🏥Medicine
technical

In medicine, the estimated date when a pregnancy is expected to reach full term (typically 40 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period).

The doctor calculated the due date based on the first day of her last period.

The due date is an estimate, and babies can arrive earlier or later.

💡

Also known as the estimated date of delivery (EDD).

⚖️Law
formal

In legal contexts, the date by which a document or payment must be submitted or received to meet contractual or regulatory requirements.

The contract specifies a due date for the final payment.

The tax return must be filed by the due date to avoid penalties.

💡

Failure to meet a due date may result in penalties or legal consequences.

Collocations

miss the due datefail to complete or submit something by the required dateextend the due datepostpone the deadline for completion or submissionmeet the due datecomplete or submit something on or before the required date

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

drop-dead datephrase
An absolute deadline that cannot be extended
soft deadlinephrase
A flexible due date that may be adjusted

💡Pro Tip

Professional Use

In business and legal contexts, always confirm the exact due date to avoid penalties or missed opportunities.

Gold Rule

Legal and Financial Consequences

Missing a due date in legal or financial contexts can result in penalties, late fees, or contract breaches.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'due' (owed or required) + 'date' (specific day). The phrase has been used since at least the 16th century in legal and financial contexts.

📝Usage Notes

The term is commonly used in professional, medical, and legal settings. In everyday language, it often refers to deadlines for tasks or payments.

Word Breakdown

due
required or owed
adjective
+
date
a specific day
noun
English Dictionary