commencement date

Meaning

1. 1nouncountableformallegal

   The date on which a contract, policy, law or period of work officially begins.

   Grammar: Usually singular and used with the: the commencement date is May 1.

   Patterns

   • the commencement date of something
   • on the commencement date

   The commencement date of the lease is the first of June.

   Your insurance cover begins on the commencement date shown on the form.

   The contract states a commencement date of January 15.

Word forms

Common combinations

the agreed commencement date

Both parties signed with the agreed commencement date in mind.

on the commencement date

Payments start on the commencement date.

set a commencement date

The council set a commencement date for the new rules.

before the commencement date

You must complete the training before the commencement date.

the commencement date of the contract

The commencement date of the contract is on the first page.

Synonyms and how they differ

start date

It means the same but is plain and used in everyday speech and informal documents.

effective date

It is the date when terms take effect, which can differ from the signing or the actual start of work.

inception date

It is common in insurance, where it marks when cover begins.

Opposites

Word family

commence verb

to begin

commencement noun

a beginning or start

commencing adjective

starting on a stated date

Commonly confused: commencement date or commencement?

Practice

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