noun
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a taste that lingers on after eating or drinking
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a lingering impression or sensation
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aftertaste
Explanation
The taste that lingers in your mouth after you've eaten something is called an aftertaste. You might complain that the strawberry bubble gum you love has a weird, plastic aftertaste. You might enjoy the first few sips of a new brand of soda, but find yourself disturbed by the flavor that stays behind on your tongue — this is the aftertaste. Some foods and drinks have a bitter or sour aftertaste, which can be enough to ruin the experience of eating or drinking. You can also use aftertaste figuratively, to mean "a general feeling," as in: "That argument with my friend left a bad aftertaste."
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.
The gala’s appearance in “The Devil Wears Prada 2” already had a slightly bitter aftertaste.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
“Here Lies Love” seemed to want its audience to leave with an aftertaste of cognitive dissonance.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
With notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, Illy Caffe’s Classico Instant Coffee leaves behind a deliciously sweet and floral aftertaste that complements its robust blend made exclusively from Arabica beans.
From Salon • Nov. 6, 2025
And like many a postmeal digestif, Fiji is a popular dessert choice for its smooth, slightly sweet aftertaste.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
The acrid aftertaste of a Little Man’s first encounter with Fear.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
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.
