Meaning & use
on or about date
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraselegallaw
A legal phrase meaning approximately on the stated date, allowing for a small difference in time.
Grammar: Comes before a specific date: on or about June 5. It is not used in ordinary conversation.
Patterns
- on or about + date
- signed on or about + date
- occurred on or about + date
The contract was signed on or about March 15, though the exact day is unclear.
The accident occurred on or about July 10, according to the police report.
Payment is due on or about the first business day of each month.
Common combinations
- on or about the date of
- The letter was sent on or about the date of the hearing.
- on or about that time
- The witness said she left on or about that time.
- on or about the first of the month
- Rent is payable on or about the first of the month.
Synonyms and how they differ
- approximately on
- Approximately on is plain English; on or about date is the legal formula used in documents.
- around
- Around is the everyday word for an approximate time; on or about date is formal and legal.
Opposites
Word family
- date noun
- A particular day of the month or year.
Commonly confused: on or about date or on or before?
on or about date vs on or before
On or before means no later than a date; on or about means approximately that date, possibly a little after.
Practice
In a legal document, 'on or about May 1' means the event happened ______.
Choose one answer.
On or about means approximately on that date, allowing a small difference. It does not mean exactly, before, or after.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “on or about date”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.