afterthought
Americannoun
-
a later or second thought; reconsideration.
-
reflection after an act; an appropriate explanation, answer, expedient, or the like, conceived of too late for the occasion.
-
something added, as a part or feature, that was not included in the original plan or design.
The vestry was added to the church as an afterthought.
noun
-
a comment, reply, etc, that occurs to one after the opportunity to deliver it has passed
-
an addition to something already completed
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of afterthought
Explanation
An afterthought is something you think of or add later. You might quickly wrap a gift and then stick a bow on it as an afterthought just before you hand it to the birthday boy. Sometimes calling something an afterthought is a bit of an insult — a movie reviewer might complain that female characters seem added on as afterthoughts, or a diner at a fancy restaurant could note that while the meat is well-cooked, the vegetables are nothing but an afterthought. This word has been used since the 1600s, a compound of after and thought.
Vocabulary lists containing afterthought
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
I Can Make This Promise
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"She lives with the fear that that might happen again, but she's speaking on behalf of all victims and survivors who feel that they are always an afterthought," Oliver said.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
Photography once was an afterthought to the news.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Claiming that Rubio is “just an earnestly funny person” and as an afterthought adding, “JD was spectacular.”
From Salon • Jun. 12, 2026
"We have seen the very serious consequences that online harms can have...The safety of children cannot be an afterthought," said Culture Minister Marc Miller in a statement announcing the proposal.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
I had a boyfriend at the time, but he would usually become an afterthought anytime Evan was in proximity.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
