afterlife
Americannoun
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Also called future life. life after death.
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the later part of a person's life.
the remarkably productive afterlife of Thomas Jefferson.
noun
Etymology
Origin of afterlife
Explanation
Afterlife is a noun describing the state of being after one’s death. Many cultures and religions have a concept of an afterlife. Otherwise, much of humanity would be quite uneasy. In Eastern religions, there is a notion of “karma” or even of “nirvana,” where, after a person dies, reincarnation takes the soul to a more elevated form of life. The Judeo-Christian tradition trusts in “heaven”; the ancient Egyptians buried precious belongings with their dead to accompany them to the afterlife. Regardless of origin, most religions want people to believe that life doesn't stop when your pulse does.
Vocabulary lists containing afterlife
Ancient Egypt - Introductory
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Ancient Egypt - Middle School and High School
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King Tut Day
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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.
As to the Afterlife, I don’t particularly believe in the reincarnation of a soul/entities from human body to human body… or from human body to tomato or cockroach.
From Salon • Feb. 9, 2025
The film sees Lydia Deetz on a mission to save her rebellious daughter Astrid after she accidentally finds herself in the Afterlife.
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2024
Framework oversees the dance-centric Yuma Tent at Coachella, and last year Danan threw the Afterlife festival at L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2024
Miller, author of “Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration,” thought “Oh, what’s the bad news now?”
From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2022
It had never been done before, but perhaps the Afterlife would allow it, after seeing what a brilliant team they’d become.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
