Legal Definitions - untimely

Definition: Not timely; at an inappropriate time, either too soon or too late.

Examples:

• She received the news of her father's death at an untimely moment, just before an important exam.
• The company's decision to lay off employees was seen as untimely, as it came right before the holiday season.
• His untimely arrival at the party caused a disruption, as everyone was already leaving.

The examples illustrate how something can be considered untimely if it happens at a time that is not appropriate or convenient. In the first example, the news of the father's death came at a time when the person was already stressed about an exam, making it even more difficult to handle. In the second example, the decision to lay off employees right before the holiday season was seen as insensitive and unfair. In the third example, the person's arrival at the party was too late, as everyone was already leaving, causing a disruption.