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Definition of dateline

dateline

/ˈdeɪt.laɪn/
date · line
Plural:datelines
•
Past Simple:datelined
•
Past Participle:datelined
•
Present Participle:datelining
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dateline Lexical Profile

dateline Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A line at the head of a newspaper article, dispatch, or letter stating the date and geographical place of origin.

Example

"The correspondent's article carried a Cairo dateline and detailed the diplomatic summit."

2

An imaginary north-south line through the Pacific Ocean roughly following the 180th meridian, where each calendar day officially begins and ends.

Example

"We lost an entire day on our flight to Tokyo after crossing the international dateline."

• verb

1

To furnish a news article or dispatch with a line indicating its date and place of origin.

Example

"The report was datelined Geneva and summarized the latest trade negotiations."

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'dateline' (the line indicating the date and place of a news report) with 'deadline' (the latest time by which a task must be completed) or 'byline' (the line giving the author's name).

• Nearby Words

dated
datedness
dateless
dateline
dater
datestamp
dating

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dateline. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dateline
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