afterthought

American  

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

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of afterthought

First recorded in 1655–65; after + thought ¹

Example Sentences

That feta has a second act planned: whipped into eggs and crowned on a rice bowl later in the week, where it feels less like an afterthought and more like a flourish.

From Salon

Salary was an afterthought for Buffett, whose own Berkshire stock portfolio had been accruing gains since Abel was in grade school.

From The Wall Street Journal

Until then, Paris F.C. had been an afterthought on the city’s sporting scene.

From The Wall Street Journal

Brady was a sixth round afterthought motivated by seething resentment.

From The Wall Street Journal

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