# no later than

CEFR B1 · Fixed phrase

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/no-later-than
Updated: 2026-07-28

## Definition

at or before a specific time, but definitely not after it.

For teachers: a temporal limit specifying a deadline; functions as a complex preposition or adverbial phrase to indicate that an action must occur by a terminal point.

## Examples

- Please submit your homework no later than Friday.
- The application must reach the office no later than 5:00 PM on the final day of the month.
- The contract stipulates that all structural repairs must be completed no later than thirty days following the initial inspection.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Please arrive not later than 6:00." but "Please arrive no later than 6:00." — the fixed phrase uses the determiner 'no' rather than the adverb 'not' to modify the comparative 'later'.

## Usage notes

- often used in formal instructions, deadlines, and legal requirements.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'by', which is more common in casual speech; 'no later than' adds a layer of formal emphasis to the deadline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.