posthumous

American  

[pos-chuh-muhs, -choo-] / ˈpɒs tʃə məs, -tʃʊ- /

adjective

1. arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death.

   a posthumous award for bravery.

2. published after the death of the author.

   a posthumous novel.

3. born after the death of the father.

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posthumous British  

/ ˈpɒstjʊməs /

adjective

1. happening or continuing after one's death

2. (of a book, etc) published after the author's death

3. (of a child) born after the father's death

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Other Word Forms

• nonposthumous
  adjective
• posthumously
  adverb
• posthumousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of posthumous

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin postumus “last-born, born after the death of the father” (in form a superlative of posterus; see posterior); post-classical spelling with h by association with humus “ground, earth,” as if referring to burial

Explanation

If something happens after someone dies, it is described as posthumous — like the posthumous interest in the music of a singer who died "a nobody." The adjective posthumous comes from Latin — post means "after" and humare, "to bury." (You might also think of humus, which means "dirt" or "earth.") So something that is posthumous happens after a person is dead, like the posthumous discovery that your humble neighbor who lived very modestly was actually a multi-millionaire, or the posthumous publication of a book that the writer finished just before she died.

Example Sentences

Kafka’s posthumous fortune owes principally to the evangelism of his friend, Max Brod, who refused the author’s dying request to destroy his papers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, has won the top prize at this year’s British Book Awards.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

But he says nothing about its posthumous Off Broadway production, in 2023, which played to packed houses and mixed reviews — not quite the valedictory Sondheim would have wanted.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

There is no escaping the fact that by watching “Love Story,” we are engaging in a posthumous version of the very same thing.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Both were vitally interested in Macon Dead’s son, and both had close and supportive posthumous communication with their fathers.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison