afterthought

American  

[af-ter-thawt, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˌθɔt, ˈɑf- /

noun

afterthoughts plural

1. a later or second thought; reconsideration.

2. reflection after an act; an appropriate explanation, answer, expedient, or the like, conceived of too late for the occasion.

3. something added, as a part or feature, that was not included in the original plan or design.

   The vestry was added to the church as an afterthought.

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afterthought British  

/ ˈɑːftəˌθɔːt /

noun

1. a comment, reply, etc, that occurs to one after the opportunity to deliver it has passed

2. an addition to something already completed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• afterthoughts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of afterthought

First recorded in 1655–65; after + thought ¹

Explanation

An afterthought is something you think of or add later. You might quickly wrap a gift and then stick a bow on it as an afterthought just before you hand it to the birthday boy. Sometimes calling something an afterthought is a bit of an insult — a movie reviewer might complain that female characters seem added on as afterthoughts, or a diner at a fancy restaurant could note that while the meat is well-cooked, the vegetables are nothing but an afterthought. This word has been used since the 1600s, a compound of after and thought.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

afterthought afterthoughts

But some traders have told BBC News NI that the site has become rundown and an "afterthought" for the council.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

For most of the 19th century, while America grew into the world’s largest economy, its Navy ranked no better than 10th, and its Army was an afterthought.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

America needs policies that favor U.S. cattle and ranchers — instead of treating them as an afterthought.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

Claiming that Rubio is “just an earnestly funny person” and as an afterthought adding, “JD was spectacular.”

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

He understood in an instant, turned smooth but fast; but he wasn’t fast enough, and in that split-second, Julian looked down—casually, just an afterthought, but a second too soon.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

The sport was so closely woven into the fabric of Nordic culture that U.S. skiers knew they started every race as mere afterthoughts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026

The viewer’s in for an unexpected twist, too, seeing as all of these characters but Rachel will soon be afterthoughts, tossed aside to maintain a constant laser focus on Marty’s hijinks.

From Salon ● Dec. 25, 2025

Following his death, some wondered if he had wound up in a rough-and-tumble league where skill and technique are afterthoughts.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2023

Baltimore prevailed in a brutally tough division that relegated the Red Sox and New York Yankees to afterthoughts.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 28, 2023

He ate hot eggs, warm bread, reveled in steaming tea, although the water from which the tea was made left an aftertaste in the mouth, afterthoughts in the brain: from what nearby bam?

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara