When filling out official forms, do you write your birthday or birthdate? Rather, is there a difference between these terms irrespective of the context you decide to use them? Find out all that in this “birthday vs. birthdate” explanatory post.
“Birthday” is the anniversary of the day when something was created. Its popular definition is “the date when someone is born.” In contrast, “birthdate” is the year, month, & day of someone’s birth. The difference is that a birthday is a date & month, while birthdate includes the year.
If you have filled out official forms online or offline at any point in time, you may have realized that some forms use the term “birthdate” while others use “birthday.” This has only amplified the confusion between these terms. Worry not because we will clarify the difference between these words in this article.
Definitions Of Birthday And Birthdate
The beauty of the English language is that you can always pick up your dictionary if you encounter a word you do not understand. However, some dictionaries may confuse you even more when it comes to similar words you would like to differentiate.
For instance, you will need to check different dictionaries to understand the differences between words like “birthday” and “birthdate.” We have prepared detailed sections so you do not have to search for different meanings from different dictionaries to differentiate the words “birthday” and “birthdate.” Here we go!
What Is The Definition Of Birthday?
“Birthday” is the anniversary of the creation day of something. In this case, the item can be animate or inanimate. For instance, “Today is the electoral commission’s birthday.” In this example, “birthday” indicates the commission’s foundation or origin; its anniversary.
“Birthday” also refers to the anniversary of the day of a person’s birth. The key word here is “anniversary,” which means “a day on which there is an exact number of years since an event occurred.” Therefore, it does not imply the exact day of the week but a date on the calendar that marks a year or a specific number of years since someone’s birth. In a sentence, “Tomorrow will be my daughter’s 15th birthday.”
“Birthday” also means “the date when someone is born or the creation date for an item, as birthdate or date of birth. In this case, there is an indication of the time, date, and year of birth. An example in a sentence, “My birth certificate will tell you my true birthdate.”
Also, a “birthday” is an annual celebration of the day of someone’s birth. Traditionally, the celebration features gifts and a cake and is a rite of passage. For instance, “The Milan family’s birthday celebrations are my favorite.”
This word emerged in the late 14th century from the Old English term “byrddæg,” meaning “anniversary or celebration of one’s birth.” Initially, this word referred to the anniversary of a king’s or saint’s birth. Note that “birthday” is a compound noun consisting of two nouns, “birth” and “day.” When combined, these words mean “day of birth.”
What Is The Definition Of Birthdate?
“Birthdate is the date of a person’s birth, typically expressed as a specific day, month, and year. Just like the word birthday, birthdate is also a compound noun formed with two words.
The first one, “birth,” means “a beginning or start or point of origin.” The second one, “date,” means “a specific day in time when a transaction or event takes place at an appointed time, or the day, month, and year when something happens.” The word has two syllables, “birth-date,” and its correct pronunciation is “/burth-dey/.”
Birthday Vs. Birthdate: So, What Is The Difference?
While they both refer to the day you were born, a “birthday” means the same date every year you celebrate your birth “date of birth.” In contrast, a birthdate is an exact day, month, and date, when you were born. For instance, “Tenth May is my birthday and Tenth May 1999 is my birthdate.” This word has two syllables, “birth-date,” and its correct pronunciation is “/burth-dat/.”
Word Vs Word Posts
How To Properly Use Birthday And Birthdate In A Sentence
“Birthday” and “birthdate” are compound words. A compound word is a word formed from two or more words. In this case, birth + day and birth + date. Also, compound words have separate but related meanings to their individual forming words.
This is an important fact to understand before using these words in sentences. It clarifies whether you should spell birthday as “birth day” or “birthday” and birthdate as “birth date.” Here are some other things you should know about using these words in sentences.
How And When To Use Birthday
Use this word when referring to a celebration of the day of your birth, the day of something’s origin or foundation. For instance, “The institute’s twentieth birthday is fast approaching” or “Mary’s fourth birthday is here with us.”
You can also use this word as a noun or an intransitive/informal verb (to celebrate one’s birthday.) In a sentence, “We held a birthday for my mum even after her transition.”
Also, use the plural form of this word as “birthdays” when using it as a noun. Here is an example in a sentence, “My husband forgot my last three birthdays.”
How And When To Use Birthdate
Birthdate is a noun. So, when using it in a sentence, you should apply the instructions for noun application.
Note: when spelling this word in a sentence, some people use “birthdate” or “birth date.” While both spellings are correct, the most common one is the first one because birthdate is a compound word. Therefore, it would be wise to use it as such in writing.
You can also use the alternative “date of birth.” For example, you can say, “The program asked for my date of birth” or “The program asked for my birthdate.”
You can also use the plural form of this noun (birthdates). In a sentence, “The birthdates on my ID and birth certificate do not match.”
Examples Of Birthday And Birthdate Use In Sentences
We use these words daily. However, the question is, are you using them correctly? The section above will answer this question. More so, the examples below will give you some insight into what it means to use these words correctly.
Example sentences of birthday
- Today was the best birthday ever because I spent it with all the people I love and care for.
- The car was a nice birthday gift, but the motives behind giving it to me are what I do not trust.
- I am annoyed with my husband because he forgot my birthday for the second year in a row.
- Jane sent Mary the most beautiful bouquet and a thoughtful letter for her birthday.
- The kids at the Children’s home have never had a real birthday party until today.
Example sentences of birthdate
- We will engrave our daughter’s birthdate on the necklace her grandmother bought.
- The DMV wrote the wrong birthdate on my Driver’s License.
- Jane asked us to personalize her baby’s items with her name and birthdate.
- The company asked for my kid’s name, birthdate, and medical records in my insurance application.
- The saddest thing about my mother’s Alzheimer’s is that she cannot remember her only child’s birthdate.
Conclusion
You can refer to the day you were born as your birthdate or your birthday. However, when referring to the celebration, it is a birthday, not a birthdate. Now that you have read this post exhaustively, the main question is, “Do you use these words correctly?” Feel free to refer to details discussed in this birthday vs. birthdate post whenever you need some clarifications.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.