after-party

American  

[af-ter-pahr-tee, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˌpɑr ti, ˈɑf- /

Or afterparty or after party

noun

after-parties plural

1. a usually exclusive party that takes place after a performance or other event or after the main party.

   The screening of the premiere was followed by an afterparty.

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Usage

What is an after-party? An after-party is a party that happens after an event or after the main party. The after-party is usually smaller, less formal, and more exclusive (meaning fewer people are invited). After-parties are usually held after events like concerts, dances, weddings, and award ceremonies. Since such events are usually at least somewhat formal, the after-party is often intended as an opportunity for people to really let loose. It is also commonly seen without a hyphen (afterparty) and as two words (after party). Example: At the end of the wedding reception, the best man announced that he was having an after-party at his house for anyone who wanted to keep on partying past midnight.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• after-parties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of after-party

First recorded in 1940–45; after ( def. ) + party ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

after-party after-parties

The capital's largest outdoor music venue, Budapest Park -- which holds the official Pride after-party since 2018 -- hoisted a rainbow flag for the first time ever.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

While celebrating City's WSL success in the Co-Op Live after-party of a club parade on Monday, Shaw was asked to address the "elephant in the room" in front of 19,000 fans.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

“Are they going to an after-party? A rave? An EDM session?”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

The couple began dating in 2016 after meeting at a Golden Globes after-party, where they fought over an In ‘N’ Out burger, the singer previously revealed during an episode of “American Idol.”

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026

I decide to go to the school dance because the after-party is at Alex Tafoya’s house.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Some worked the story, and others just went to the after-parties.

From Salon ● May 1, 2026

Even the hallmark rowdy after-parties have been cancelled.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2025

The Spotlight is already a contender for awards-season after-parties and underplays for bigger acts like SG Lewis, Dom Dolla, DJ Tennis and the Dare.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2024

At after-parties on Monday night, there was considerable angst at just how much thinner the lineup would probably be for the next Emmys.

From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2024

Multiple after-parties had been booked with big-name performers.

From Slate ● May 30, 2023