afterthought

noun

af·​ter·​thought ˈaf-tər-ˌthȯt How to pronounce afterthought (audio)
1
: an idea occurring later
made the suggestion as an afterthought
2
: something (such as a part or feature) not thought of originally : something secondary
a seating area added as an afterthought to the office

Examples of afterthought in a Sentence

Then I remembered, almost as an afterthought, to feed the cat. The fact was hidden deep in the report, almost as an afterthought. The lounge was added to the office as an afterthought.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Colleges should design advising, scheduling, and data systems for adult and returning learners from the start, not retrofit them as an afterthought. — Ruth Bauer, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 Of course, other keyboard types were cheaper to produce, relegating Hall-effect keyboards to an afterthought for decades. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026 Dogs aren’t an afterthought on Bark Air—they’re the whole reason the airline exists. — Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Oct. 2026 That spend is part of the cost of running AI, not an afterthought. — Girish Joshi, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afterthought

Word History

Etymology

after- + thought entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of afterthought was in 1590

Rhymes for afterthought

See All Rhymes for afterthought

Browse Nearby Words

after the hour
afterthought
aftertime
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Afterthought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterthought. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

afterthought

noun
af·​ter·​thought -ˌthȯt How to pronounce afterthought (audio)
1
: a later thought about something one has done or said
2
: something not thought of originally
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