birthdate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "birthdate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the date on which someone was born. Example: "Please provide your birthdate for the registration form."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is no requirement to enter your real birthdate - in fact, some community members might welcome the opportunity to knock a few years off... Q: Is it possible to send a message privately to another user?

The Guardian

Even when people do change the code, they often use their birthdate, or another easily guessable sequence.

The Economist

Last year the government released a draft amendment proposing to shift the day to September 28th (widely held to be the birthdate of Confucius).

The Economist

The campaigning group Women Against State Pension Inequality has been is petitioning the Government to reverse the decision at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110776. Hit particularly hard are around 700,000 women born between 1951 and 1953 who will end up with a smaller state pension than men of the same age from next April – because of what amounts to a birthdate lottery.

Independent

Checking out his military career at the French National Archives ("This is incredible: it's the Hogwarts library!") she found that the Louis Volant who won the Legion d'Honneur didn't have the same birthdate as her ancestor.

Independent

It is unfair for any woman to lose out simply because of her birthdate.

Independent

Edwards agrees that Jane was born before October, 1537: the documented presence of her mother, Frances Brandon, at the funeral of Jane Seymour, the mother of Edward VI, who died two weeks after Edward was born, makes a shared birthdate for Jane and Edward impossible — Tudor women did not appear in public for forty days after giving birth.

The New Yorker

William Drew said that, starting this year, the 50 Best has required voters to click on an attestation — "Can you guarantee that you've been to this restaurant in the past eighteen months?" — and to specify the date of their visit, but, as a fraud-busting measure, this seems only slightly more effective than exacting a birthdate from visitors to liquor Web sites.

The New Yorker

Kim, whose probably-bogus birthdate puts him at twenty-eight years old — he is more likely twenty-six or twenty-seven — would have been a teen-ager when this new facility was designed, Bradley Martin, a longtime Pyongyang watcher, points out.

The New Yorker

I was a little unkind to Gary Shandling, describing him as a "now-forgotten American comedian" and putting "(fl. circa 1900)" instead of his actual birthdate.

The New Yorker

Not only does Taylor pin 1905 (Powell's birthdate) as the median natal year for his titular specimens, but he frequently draws on Powell's writings and, in one caption, dubs him "Bright Young Impresario".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking for someone's "birthdate" in a form, consider including a short explanation of why the information is needed to build trust and transparency.

Common error

Avoid using "birthdate" in highly formal or legal contexts; instead, opt for "date of birth" as it is perceived as more professional.

Linguistic Context

The term "birthdate" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the specific date on which someone was born. It serves as a piece of personal information used for identification, record-keeping, and various administrative purposes. Ludwig examples show it frequently used in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "birthdate" is a common and generally accepted noun referring to the date of someone's birth. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While "date of birth" is more formal and preferred for official documents, "birthdate" is suitable for most general situations. When using "birthdate", be mindful of privacy concerns and specify the desired format to avoid misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Date of birth

More formal and commonly used in official documents.

Day of birth

Focuses specifically on the day someone was born.

Year of birth

Focuses specifically on the year someone was born.

Natal day

A more poetic or literary way to refer to a birthdate.

Month of birth

Focuses specifically on the month someone was born.

When someone was born

A more descriptive and less direct way to ask for a birthdate.

Time of birth

A more specific detail of someone's birth.

Anniversary of birth

Highlights the yearly recurrence of the birthdate.

Birth anniversary

Similar to anniversary of birth, but slightly less common.

Origin date

Less common and refers to the beginning of someone's life.

FAQs

What is the difference between "birthdate" and "date of birth"?

"Birthdate" and "date of birth" are often interchangeable, but "date of birth" is generally considered more formal and is preferred in official documents and professional settings.

Can I use "birthdate" and "birthday" interchangeably?

No, "birthdate" refers to the specific date someone was born (e.g., January 1, 2000), while "birthday" refers to the anniversary of that date and the celebration associated with it.

What information should I include when asking for a "birthdate"?

When asking for a "birthdate", you should typically specify the format you prefer (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY) to avoid confusion. Also, clarify the purpose for collecting this information to maintain transparency.

Are there any privacy concerns when sharing my "birthdate"?

Sharing your "birthdate" can pose privacy risks, as it can be used to verify your identity or potentially access other personal information. Be mindful of who you share this information with and why.