afterschool

American  

[af-ter-skool, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˌskul, ˈɑf- /

Or after-school

adjective

1. for students and taking place after they finish their day in school, usually in the late afternoon.

   He’s looking for an afterschool job.

   Is there afterschool tutoring in math?

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Usage

What does afterschool mean? Afterschool describes something for students that takes place after their schooling is done for the day. Afterschool can describe just about anything that takes place after a school day ends. At school, students might attend afterschool care when they’re too young to be home alone. They might belong to afterschool clubs, which have meetings at the end of the school day, such as a robotics club or a drama club. Students could play afterschool sports, being part of a team that practices and has games outside of school hours. Students might also do things away from school that happen immediately after the end of school or only take place outside of school hours, such as an afterschool job or an afterschool program not held at the school.Afterschool is most often used in reference to students who are teens or younger and attend nursery school, primary school, or secondary school. Afterschool can also be spelled after-school. After school is used to indicate a time later than school hours, as in Tanya walked home with her friends after school and then promptly did her homework.Example: Leoni had to stay in afterschool care every day when they were young because their parents worked late.

Etymology

Origin of afterschool

First recorded in 1905–10; after ( def. ) + school ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

For years, the Los Angeles Unified School District has teamed up with its Beyond the Bell afterschool program to enable middle schools students to have a variety of sports experiences.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

This should be a teachable moment, the adulting equivalent of an afterschool special.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 26, 2025

I met Stella Shin at an afterschool club, where she teaches five-year-olds English.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2024

Salvation Army officials say 1.2 million people belong to Kroc fitness centers, and over 3 million people annually are served through a wide variety of other programs, including job training, theatrical performances, and afterschool care.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2023

It’s the last place I want her in, but nothing about this afterschool club seems to be my choice.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan