Legal Definitions - late

Definition: Late, adjective

1. Tardy; coming after an appointed or expected time. For example, "I was late for my meeting because of traffic."
2. (Of a person) only recently having died. For example, "The late actor was known for his incredible performances."

These examples illustrate the two different meanings of the word "late." The first example shows how "late" can refer to being behind schedule or not arriving on time. The second example shows how "late" can refer to someone who has recently passed away.