afterthought
Americannoun
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a later or second thought; reconsideration.
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reflection after an act; an appropriate explanation, answer, expedient, or the like, conceived of too late for the occasion.
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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.
noun
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a comment, reply, etc, that occurs to one after the opportunity to deliver it has passed
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an addition to something already completed
Etymology
Origin of afterthought
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.
Vocabulary lists containing afterthought
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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I Can Make This Promise
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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.
Others see an out-of-control system in which children barely out of middle school have agents and social-media strategies while education becomes an afterthought.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
Balance, it seems, is merely an afterthought — or disregarded entirely.
From Salon • May 7, 2026
As his party swung to the right, the moderate Seymour had no problem with becoming a political afterthought.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
But Robertson welcomed the long-term plans as "amazing news", assuming players aren't an afterthought when rebuilding begins.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 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
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.
