1.
late entry; latecomer; coming later
Something or someone that enters a field, market, or activity after others have already established themselves. Often used in business contexts.
Composed of 後 (after, later) + 発 (departure, launch). The opposite of 先発 (going first, starting first). Extremely common in business discussions about market entry.
Common collocations
- 後発品 (later-entry product; also generic medicine)
- 後発医薬品 (generic drug)
- 後発メーカー (late-entry manufacturer)
- 後発組 (latecomers, the group that came later)
- 後発の強み (advantage of being a latecomer)
Similar words
- 先発 — going first, first entry (the antonym)
- 新規参入 — new market entry (focuses on the entry itself, not timing)
- ジェネリック — generic (specifically for generic medicines, loanword)
Usage
後発医薬品 (generic drugs) is one of the most common collocations, referring to medicines released after the original patent expires.