aftermarket
Americannoun
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the market for replacement parts, accessories, and equipment for the care or enhancement of the original product, especially an automobile, after its sale to the consumer.
The company holds a large share in the automotive radio aftermarket.
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any additional market created by a product after the primary market.
Television is the perfect aftermarket for old movies.
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Stock Exchange. secondary market.
Usage
What does aftermarket mean? An aftermarket is a market for parts, accessories, or equipment used to maintain or improve an existing product, usually relating to machinery, especially automobiles. The aftermarket is a market for goods that can be used to repair, improve, or change a product that was already made on a primary, or standard, market. For example, when you buy a replacement power cable for your laptop from a company other than the computer manufacturer, you’re buying it on the aftermarket. Aftermarket is often paired with parts, as in The aftermarket parts for my car are actually of a better quality than the original parts. In the context of a stock exchange, aftermarket is used to mean a secondary market. The secondary market is the situation where investors buy and sell shares that are already owned. In contrast, the primary market is the situation where a company first sells its shares to investors. Before that, the company was owned privately. National markets like the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ are aftermarkets. Example: Because her new car didn’t come with good-quality speakers, Libby searched the aftermarket for better speakers.
Etymology
Origin of aftermarket
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.
These measures include moving production to Eastern Europe and increasing aftermarket and service within the European business, which will structurally increase margins at Mercedes-Benz trucks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
The South Korean auto-component supplier remains sensitive to the won’s appreciation against the dollar because a substantial portion of its aftermarket parts is sourced in Korea and exported globally, the analyst writes in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
He lays out the problem ahead: the aftermarket.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
GE Aerospace on Tuesday said the acquisition will help the Evendale, Ohio, company meet surging demand across its commercial engines, aftermarket and defense markets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The aftermarket DVD player had initially been a sore spot between her and Jim.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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